Punjab News- GOI prioritises 184 poor performing districts- Anuradha Gupta

Chandigarh, September 9, 2013: Anuradha Gupta, Additional Secretary-cum-Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Government of India, here today chaired a high level meeting on “State Consultation for Intensification and Harmonisation of efforts in High Priority Districts for improved Maternal and Child Health outcomes”.

Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health & FW and Medical Education & Research, Punjab was present. The meeting was organized by NRHM, Punjab in collaboration with USAID and other development partners at Hotel JW Mariott, Chandigarh.

This Consultation provided a crucial platform to engage over 150 delegates including, representatives from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Deputy Commissioners of the 6 HPDs (High Priority Districts), State and District Health Officials from Punjab Government, National and State level RMNCH experts from development agencies, civil society, non- governmental organisations, medical colleges, academic institutes  and representatives from professional medical association like IMA (Indian Medical Association) and IAP (Indian Association of Pediatrics) and FOGSI to discuss and deliberate on Child Survival and Development issues in the state.

Anuradha Gupta revealed that Government of India (GOI) has prioritized 184 poor performing districts in the country based on a composite set of indicators for focused interventions across the entire spectrum of Maternal and Child Health. The objective is to accelerate the progress towards attaining Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 and health based targets outlined in the 12th Five Year Plan and finally achieving the goal of reducing Under 5 Mortality Rates (U5MR) to less than 20 by 2035 as envisaged in the Call for Action Initiative. The Union Government has adopted the Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Health + Adolescence (RMNCH+A) approach to implement critically important activities in these 184 districts referred to as the High Priority Districts (HPDs). In Punjab, these HPD districts are Sangrur, Barnala, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Gurdaspur and  Pathankot”. Smt. Gupta appreciated that “while Punjab has demonstrated steady progress in curbing under-5 mortalities like both, Infant Mortality Rate (30/1000 live births) and Neonatal Mortality Rate (25/1000 live births), which are lower than the National Average (India IMR-44/1000live births, India NMR- 31/1000 live births, respectively), yet there is still huge scope to improve this further to a new level. To provide the entire spectrum of care using life cycle approach and that is why GoI has given emphasis on the RMNCH+A Strategic approaches”.

Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Departments of Health, FW and Medical Education & Research, Punjab stressed on the need for a holistic approach to end preventable child deaths. She stated “we require a comprehensive approach that includes not only increasing coverage of key child survival interventions, but also address key social determinants such as girl-child’s education, adolescent health, maternal (mal)nutrition and other environmental determinants. Child mortality rates are consistently lower among children living in families who access safe drinking water and improved toilet practices. Mahajan further stated that as we move towards 2015 and beyond, a renewed focus on empowering women and promoting equity in access to health services will also help guide actions for child survival." The road map of RMNCH+A interventions discussed at the Consultation aims at fast-tracking reductions in preventable child deaths through sharper State action plans and improved monitoring and evaluation. With this focused approach Punjab will be well within the reach of extremely low rates of mortality and be a leader among the developing States in the Country in the field of health care”.

Hussan Lal, Mission Director, NRHM-Punjab reiterated Punjab’s commitment towards both the community and the children of Punjab. The state has an opportunity to make great gains on child survival with increased commitment and funding for the most effective life-saving practices. Moreover, Punjab with its unique culture of inclusiveness, social entrepreneurship and innovations presents a historic opportunity to accelerate progress in reducing childhood illness and death. The Development Partners have proudly announced their full support to this initiative and have promised all possible support to carry out the interventions to prevent child deaths. He added that USAID shall provide technical support for improvement in health indicators in High priority districts of Punjab.

Mr John Beed, MD-USAIDS said that the organization is committed to RMNCH+A implementation in 6 states of India including Punjab, where it would provide technical assistance to Punjab Health Department to achieve MDG goals.

The meeting was attended by Dr Rakesh Kumar, Joint Secretary (CH), Govt. of India, Dr Ajay Khera, DC (CH), Govt of India, Dr Ashok Nayyar, Director Health & FW, Punjab, Dr Tejvir Singh, Director Research & Medical Education, Punjab, Dr Karanjit Singh, Director Health Services (FW), Punjab. Besides these, the Deputy Commissioners of the 6 High Priority Districts were present along with the Civil Surgeons of the districts.