NAHARLAGUN, Mar 19: Arunachal’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) stands at 36 deaths per 1000 live births as per 2016 records, the highest since 2000 and one of the worst in the entire country. Madhya Pradesh has IMR at 47 per 1000 live births which stood at the lowest with eight deaths. Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Meghalaya are other worse performing states apart from Arunachal according to the Niti Aayog report published in January 2018.
Director of Family Welfare Dr K Lego expressed disappointment over increase in IMR as he said that ‘no baby should die for want of service.’
He was addressing the inaugural session of the eight days residential training on Integrated Management of Neonatal & Childhood Illness (IMNCI) for the newly appointed nurses (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) at the State Training Centre, National Health Mission, here on Monday.
Dr Lego said the figure is very disappointing and not acceptable at all.
IMNCI is a systematic approach to children’s health which focuses on the whole physical development of a child, including curative care and on prevention of disease.
He advised the nurses to discharge duty sincerely with a cautioning that strict action will be taken against those trained health workers found neglecting their duties, leading to death of a newborn.
Dr Lego said nurses must take care of the newborn babies, no matter, whether it was an institutional or home delivery. They should teach the mothers how to handle their new born babies, he said.
(page 3)Jt Director Family Welfare Dr S Bhattacharjee, Deputy Director of Family Welfare Dr C J Mongmaw and State Programme officer (Training) Dr T Taku were also present.
The second batch of training will be conducted from 29 March to 5 April.
