The first Maternal and Child Health Conclave in Jammu and Kashmir, held at the SKICC in Srinagar, is a significant step forward in the healthcare sector.
Given the importance of mother and child health in India, efforts are being made to improve this area.
These efforts are bearing fruit, as evidenced by the outcomes.
On Monday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha officially opened the conclave. According to him, the conference would offer a unique opportunity to discuss challenges, opportunities, and innovative efforts in Maternal and Child Health.
The conclave is being convened in the wake of the welcome news that the Infant Mortality Rate in J&K has decreased significantly (IMR). The Lieutenant Governor stated that his administration intends to reduce maternal and child mortality even more.
According to the Registrar General of India's Sample Registration System (SRS)-2020 report, the IMR in J&K has fallen from 20 to 17 in a single year, far better than the national average of 28.
The IMR displays the number of children under the age of one year who died per thousand live births. According to a poll from 2021, J&K has India's second lowest mother and child death rate.
The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in this state is 46, which is the lowest in India.
Upgrading Infant Care Units, the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, Skilled Birth Attendance, and universalization of vital newborn care are among the strategies.
With financial and technical support from the National Health Mission, Special New-born Care Units have been established in dozens of district and other equivalent hospitals, Neonatal Intensive Care Units have been established in Government Medical Colleges, New-born Stabilization Units have been established in Community Health Centres, and New-born Care Corners have been established in several delivery points.
