GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Department of Health And Family Welfare

RAJYA SABRA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4246
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH MAY, 2010
Maternal and Child Health

4246. SHR1 RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the amount of funds allocated for maternal and child health during the last three years, year-wise;

(b) whether it is a fact that India accounts for the highest number of child deaths in the world; and

(c) if so, the reasons therefor and the steps proposed to be taken by Government to address this situation?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHR1 GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a)There is no separate allocation of funds for maternal and child health, as funds are allocated to the states under RCH Flexible Pool in a consolidated manner to give flexibility to the states to prioritise their activities including maternal and child health. The details of allocation of funds for the last three years under RCH. Flexible pool (including maternal and child health) are as under.

(b) As per State of the World's Children report 2010, India contributes to 20,8% of all child deaths-in the world: This; is the highest contribution by any single nation.

(c) Under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) (2005-12), the Reproductive and Child Health programme (RCH) II (2005-10) comprehensively integrates interventions that improve child health and addresses factors contributing to morbidity and mortality to reduce infant and under five mortality. The key components of child healthcare are as follows:-

i) Under Navjaat Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (NSSK) health care providers are trained to ensure care at birth i.e. prevention of Hypothermia, prevention of infection, early initiation of breast feeding and neo-natal resuscitation;

ii) Immunization against six vaccine preventable diseases;

iii) Integrated Management of Childhood and Neonatal Illness (IMNCI)

iv) Early detection and appropriate management of Acute Respiratory Infections, Diarrhoea and other infections;

v) Facility Based Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (F-IMNCI) integrating the Facility based Care package with the IMNCI package;

vi) Establishment of Special New Born Care Units;

vii) Infant and young child feeding (exclusive breast feeding for 6 months & timely introduction of complimentary feeding);

viii) Vitamin A+ supplementation and Iron and Folic Acid supplementation;

ix) Supplementation of all children who are anaemic, with iron supplements from the age of 6 months to 60 months along with periodic de-worming;

x) Nutrition counselling of care givers by health care personnel, utilizing Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs); and

xi) Establishment of Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRC) to address severe acute malnutrition.