IMR in Odisha has declined, but higher than national average

Sourabha Published On : Nov 22, 2016 at 7:08 PM Updated On : Nov 22, 2016 at 7:23 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 22:

Though Infant mortality rate (IMR) in Odisha has come down in recent years, it has surpassed the national average, recent government data revealed.

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nutrition

The IMR in Odisha has reduced in the recent times. As per a latest data released by the government, the mortality rate has reduced marginally as compared to other states. However, the states like Assam and Madhya Pradesh are above the national average as well as Odisha.

While 49 babies die in 1,000 births in Odisha, the national IMR rate is at 40 and over 51 in Assam and Madhya Pradesh.

No visible initiative has been taken by the government of Odisha to tackle the menace despite situations like Nagada malnutrition and Malkangiri children deaths. However, the Kerala government has taken various initiatives to put a check on infant deaths which presently stands at 12, much less than Odisha, the report said.

According to UNICEF and United Nation’s report, while the world registers 59 lakh infant deaths (less than five year old) per year, India counts around 12 lakh. In developed countries one child of below five year old age group dies among 147 whereas it stands at one per 12 children and 50 per cent of the death due to malnutrition.

These malnourished children suffer from pneumonia, diarrhea, jaundice and other birth-related problems which lead to death as a result of weak immune system and it’s directly related to maternal mortality in Odisha.

Maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Kerala stands at 61 per 1,00,000 whereas it’s 166 in national level and 222 in Odisha though said less than Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

When the government of India claims average lifespan of human beings to be 74 years in Kerala, it remains 10 years less in Odisha which proves that Odias have a lesser life expectancy.

Economists, sociologists and experts claim that infant mortality, maternal mortality and human life expectancy is directly related to literacy, awareness, health service and healthy diet.