Shillong, Nov 9: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today said that the issue of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is an matter of concern for the Government and all effort is being taken to improve the overall health care facilities in the State.
Replying in the floor of the house on the issue, Chief Minister said, “It is a very important issue that needs to be addressed from all aspects. IMR and MMR are not just a health issue… there is a social and economic aspect to it, including empowerment of women.”
In 2015, maternal death was 211, in 2017, it was 197, while this year so far 61 deaths. He said that the trend of IMR and MMR has been worrisome.
He said that to improve the health scenario particularly for reducing the infant and maternal mortality, the government has infused technology to monitor the situation.
“We have started mapping when mothers will deliver through an app called MOTHER. Through the app we are able to track every pregnant mother in the State. Today we are able to track high-risk mothers. With technology intervention, we have been able to cover 60-80 per cent institutional deliveries in South West Garo Hills,” he said, while informing that the technology application is being implemented across the State.
He categorically asserted that with the intervention of the MOTHER app, government has been able to bring down IMR and MMR ratio in the State. “Today datas are all available in our fingertips. Technology has enabled us to gather all relevant information and we are able to respond accordingly,” he added.
Expressing concern on teenage deliveries in the State, Conrad said, “We see a trend that shows 10 per cent are teenage deliveries 30 per cent are below the age of 30 and 40 per cent are unintended pregnancies”.
“We must connect nutrition, health and rural development programmes in one platform”, he added. He also expressed concern on the issue of no spacing between the birth of children. “This can only be done if we make women more involved in economic activities”, he asserted.
He said that government is taking all necessary steps to better the healthcare facilities in the State.
350 cr to be invested in health sector
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today said that 350 cr is being invested to improve the overall health care infrastructure in the State.
He said that there is big challenge but government has worked out modalities to enhance health care facilities. “World Bank has approved 350 cr for the State, which will be utilised for improving health infrastructure,” he said, while informing that investment in IT related services will also be made.
“We will have facilities for telemedicine… we will improve the health structure and the technology infrastructure,” Chief Minister asserted in the floor of the house.
Informing that there are many PHCs and CHCs, which has not been renovated for the last 25 years or so, he said that government has started interventions to renovates PHCs and CHCs.
