Question : DEATH DUE TO POOR HEALTH CARE

(a) whether the Government are aware that 24 lakhs children die every year in the country due to poor health care facilities as reported in the `Dainik Jagran` dated January 11, 2002;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to save the children from untimely death for want of health care?

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. C.P. THAKUR)


(a)to(d):A statement is laid on the table of the Lok Sabha.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 81 FOR 6.3.2002


Government are aware of the report pertaining to deaths of children published in the `Dainik Jagran` of January 11, 2002. The newspaper report gives a brief account of the status of mortality in children contained in the UNICEF document `The State of the World`s Children, 2001.`


As per the prevalent child (0-4) mortality rate (22.5 per thousand - SRS 1998), it is estimated that approximately 24 lakh children in the age group 0-4 years die every year. The major medical causes of deaths in this age include pre-mature birth, acute respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases and vaccine preventable diseases. High prevalence of low birth weight babies and malnutrition contribute to the mortality in this age group. Factors impacting social development, including female literacy, early age at marriage of girls leading to pregnancy in young women, short birth intervals, status of women, per capita income and poor health seeking behaviour contribute to child mortality.


The child (0-4) mortality rate has declined from 26.3 per thousand in 1990 to 22.5 in 1998. As per the Sample Registration System-1998, the child mortality rate ranges from 3.6 per thousand in Kerala to 32.6 in Madhya Pradesh. The child mortality rates for the major States are given in the Annexure.


Under the Reproductive and Child Health Programme, immunization, control of deaths due to acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea, provision of essential newborn care and promotion of exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding are being implemented. The Integrated Child Development Scheme is being implemented to provide supplementary nutrition to young children and pregnant and lactating mothers. To prevent micronutrient deficiencies of Vitamin A and Iron, prophylactic programmes are under implementation.


Several schemes have been launched for improving outreach services in the remote and difficult areas to further reduce infant and child mortality. These, inter-alia, include organization of RCH Camps, Dai Training Programme, Scheme for Strengthening Reproductive and Child Health Services, Immunization Strengthening Project, Border District Cluster Strategy and operationalisation of Newborn Care.


ANNEXURE

CHILD (0-4) MORTALITY RATE


Andhra Pradesh 18.1
Assam 27.5
Bihar 22.9
Gujarat 19.6
Haryana 22.4
Himachal Pradesh 16.7
Karanataka 16.7
Kerala 3.6
Madhya Pradesh 32.6
Maharashtra 12.7
Orissa 29.0
Punjab 16.8
Rajasthan 27.7
Tamil Nadu 13.0
Uttar Pradesh 29.0
West Bengal 15.0
India 22.5