GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Department of Health and Family Welfare

RAJYASABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 554
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4rH MAY, 2010
Child Deaths Under Five Years Age

*554. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAM I L Y WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of child deaths under the age of five years in the last three years, year-wise;

(b) the reasons therefor;

(c) whether it is a fact that the number of under five child deaths in India is one of the highest in the world; and

(d) if so, the steps Government has taken/proposes to take to prevent the incidences of such deaths"

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 554 FOR 4TH MAY, 2010

(a) Data regarding child deaths are available through the Sample Registration System (SRS) of the Registrar General of India (RGI) While Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) was provided by RGI regularly, the Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) was provided by RGI for the first time in SRS 2008, and was reported as 69 per 1000 live births.

The National Family Health Survey also conducts periodical surveys where the Under Five Mortality rate (U5MR) is captured. The U5MR reported in the various NFHS survey's arc as under:-

(b) As per the World Health Organization (WHO) Report 2007, the major causes of under five mortality in India are, neo natal causes such as birth asphyxia, severe infections, prematurity etc (45 %), diarrhoeal diseases (20%), acute respiratory infections (9%), measles (4%) and others 12%.

(c) As per the State of the World's Children UNICEF Report, 201&, India ranks at 49th out-of 193 countries in the descending order of the Under Five Mortality Rate (USMR).

(d) Under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) (2005-2012), the Reproductive and Child Health Programme Phase II, interventions taken up to improve child health and reduce morbidity and mortality are under:-

• Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI), early detection and appropriate management of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), Diarrhoea and other infections among new born and under five children.
• F-IMNCI is an integration of the Facility based Care package with the IMNCI package, to empower the Health personnel with the skills to manage new born and childhood illness at the community level as well as at the facility level.
• Navjaat Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (NSSK), a Basic Newborn Care and Resuscitation training programme to address important interventions of care at birth i.e. Prevention of Hypothermia, Prevention of Infection, Early initiation of Breast feeding and Neonatal Resuscitation.

• Management of Diarrhoea through administration of Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS).
• Management of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) by way of early detection and treatment through antibiotics.

• Immunization against 6 vaccine preventable diseases.
• Infant and young Child Feeding (Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months & timely introduction of complimentary feeding).
• Vitamin A+ supplementation.
• Iron and Folic Acid supplementation.
• Establishment of Special Newborn Care Units.
• Establishment of Nutritional Rehabilitation centers.