Question : Deaths of Children

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government run hospitals are well equipped with all the required infrastructure and if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Uttar Pradesh;

(b) whether a number of children have died due to lack of proper medical facilities in Government hospitals in the country and if so, the details thereof indicating the number of children died during 2016-17, State/UT-wise including Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh;

(c) the main cause behind the deaths of children during the said period along with the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) the details of funds sanctioned, released and utilised by the States/UTs for the development of infrastructure therein during each of the last three years, State/ UT-wise; and

(e) the number of hospitals upgraded/ modernised in the country, State/UT-wise including Uttar Pradesh along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government to further improve the functioning of these hospitals?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.



STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 201* FOR 9TH MARCH, 2018
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(a) to (e) : Public Health and hospitals being a state subject, under National Health Mission (NHM), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is providing technical and financial support for infrastructure strengthening and up-gradation, equipment procurement and maintenance based on the Program Implementation Plans received from States/ UTs. Since inception of National Health Mission, approvals for new construction of 32,497 health facilities and renovation/up-gradation works of 39,324 health facilities has been given. The detail of funds approved and utilized by the States/UTs for the development of infrastructure during each of the last three years, State/ UT-wise is placed at Annexure.
Reducing child mortality (Under 5 Mortality Rate) is one of the main objectives of National Health Mission. During 1990-2015, the child mortality in the county declined by 66% in comparison to global decline of 55%. As per information received from states, there are no such incidents reported where a large number of children died due to lack of proper medical facilities in Government hospitals in the country, including Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
In order to address child mortality, various interventions are implemented under NHM. These interventions includes Promotion of Institutional deliveries through cash incentive under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), entitlements under Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK), LaQshaya initiative for all government facilities with high case load to bring about reorganization of labour room to ensure respectful maternity care and enable adherence to quality standards clinical protocols in labour room, ensuring essential newborn care at all delivery points, establishment of Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU), Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSU) and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) units for care of sick and small babies, Home Based Newborn Care (HBNC) provided by ASHAs to improve child rearing practices, Mothers’ Absolute Affection programme (MAA) to promote early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for first six months, Iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation for the prevention of anaemia among the vulnerable age groups, and promote use of ORS and Zinc for management of diarrhoea in children.
Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is being supported to provide vaccination to children against many life threatening diseases such as Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Measles. Pentavalent vaccine has been introduced all across the country and “Mission Indradhanush” has been launched to fully immunize children who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated; those that have not been covered during the rounds of routine immunization for various reasons. Measles Rubella Campaign is being undertaken in select States for children from 9 months to 15 years of age with the aim of eliminating Measles by 2020.
Besides this, Government of India is also implementing Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) which provides child health screening and early interventions services including free surgery for defects, diseases, deficiencies and delays so as to improve the quality of survival and to reduce out of pocket expenditure of families.

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