NE Health Knowledge Mission is an Urgent Need
- Part 4 -

G S Oinam *

5. Manipur

Demography

The state of Manipur has an area of 22327 sq. km. and a population of 2.17 million. There are 9 districts, 36 blocks and 2391 villages. The State has population density of 97 per sq. km. (as against the national average of 312). The decadal growth rate of the state is 17.94% (against 21.54% for the country) and the population of the state continues to grow at a much faster rate than the national rate.

HEALTH INDICATORS OF MANIPUR

The Total Fertility Rate of the State is 2.8. The Infant Mortality Rate is 12 and Maternal Mortality Ratio is NA (SRS 2001 - 03). The Sex Ratio in the State is 978 (as compared to 933 for the country). Comparative figures of major health and demographic indicators are as follows:

Table I: Demographic, Socio-economic and Health profile of Manipur State as compared to India figures

Table II: Health Infrastructure of Manipur

* There is one central Medical College - Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (formerly run by NEC) and one state run medical collage is being proposed to establish very soon.
(Source: RHS Bulletin, March 2007, M/O Health & F.W., GOI)

6. Mizoram

Demography

The population of Mizoram is 0.89 million according to 2001 census and is scattered over 9 districts, 26 blocks and 817 villages. The State has the density of 42 persons per sq. km. As against decadal growth rate of 21.54% at the national level, the population of the State has grown by 29.18% over the period 1991-2001. The sex ratio of Mizoram at 935 females to 1000 males is higher than the national average of 933. Female literacy of the State rose to 86.13% from 78.6% in 1991.

State Capital

The capital of Mizoram, Aizawl is wonderfully blue in the winter, and in the enchanting view of wide stretches of a vast lake of cloud. This place has great natural beauty and endless variety of landscape and is very rich in flora and fauna. Almost all kinds of tropical tress and plants thrive in Mizoram, especially in Aizawl. The hills are marvelously green.

HEALTH INDICATORS OF MIZORAM

The Total Fertility Rate of the State is 2.9. The Infant Mortality Rate is 23 and Maternal Mortality Ratio is NA (SRS 2001 - 03). The Sex Ratio in the State is 935 (as compared to 933 for the country). Comparative figures of major health and demographic indicators are as follows:

Table I: Demographic, Socio-economic and Health profile of Mizoram State as compared to India figures

Table II: Health Infrastructure of Mizoram

(Source: RHS Bulletin, March 2007, M/O Health & F.W., GOI)

The other Health Institution in the State are detailed as under:

Ms V.S. Rao IAS (Retd), the then secretary of DONER has a vision to establish a medical consultancy cum temporary shelter especially for North east people in New Delhi. The idea was considered and welcome by former DONER Minister Shri Manisanker Iyer. Both of them are south Indian, were serving for the development of North East. Unfortunately, the idea was unfinished, Shri, Manisanker Iyer was defeated in the election for the minister of wrong portfolio in wrong constituency.(He was the minister of Panchayati Raj ,well established system in Tamil Nadu and DONER, which is not related to Tamil Nadu ). Now, UPA-II has an agenda for health information network all over India by 2020 under National Knowledge Commission. There should be active involvement of private and public health entities to effective address the creation of this network, portal, electronic health records, health data value, security, privacy and other related issues. The ready availability of information will accrue enormous benefits to public health planning, medical education, cost control, medical research, drug development, prevention of fraud, disaster management and improved patient care and consultancy. Today, DONER ministry has both Secretary and Minister from North East. Will the DONER minister consider an urgent need of NE Health Knowledge Mission in right time?

to be continued....

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* The author is a journalist based in New Delhi and contributes regularly to e-pao.net. He can be contacted at gitchandraoinam (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) in. This article was webcasted on September 02nd, 2009.

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