(a) the average number of neo-natal deaths occurring in India due to bacterial
infections such as pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis and dangerous infections every
year;
(b) whether a recent study published in an international medical journal has shown reduction in infant deaths due to bacterial infection if zinc is
administered with standard antibiotics;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether Government is planning to implement the findings of this study?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY)
(a) As per WHO 2010 estimates, about 29% of the neonatal deaths are
attributed to serious bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, sepsis,
and meningitis.
(b) Yes.
(c) As per the recent study published in The Lancet Journal, Zinc as
an adjunct treatment in infants with probable serious infection showed
absolute risk reduction of treatment failure by 6.8%. The study was
conducted in three hospitals of Delhi with a small sample size of 352
infants.
(d) Above mentioned study is a research study done on a small
sample size and it would need large clinical trials before generalization.
However, Zinc supplementation is already a part of Diarrhoea management
protocols in the Reproductive and child health programme of NRHM.