Pilot project to reduce infant mortality rate

GUWAHATI, August 8: A pilot project to reduce the maternal and infant mortality and morbidity rate has been launched in four districts of Assam by the state branch of the Indian Council of Child Welfare (ICCW). The project, sponsored by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), if found successful, will be expanded to more districts later. According to the National Family Health Survey 1992-93, the under-5 infant mortality rate in Assam is 142 per thousand, one of the highest in the country. The all-India figure is 109 per thousand. Similarly, the maternal mortality rate in Assam is 544 per lakh births against the national rate of 453 per lakh. In Kerala, the rate is only 87 per lakh. The project, known as Integrated Approach to Reduce Maternal and Child Mortality and Morbidity in Assam, was launched in the second quarter this year after initial survey were carried out last year. Three villages each, in Nagaon, Kamrup, Jorhat and Darrang districts have been selected for the purpose. The villages are Rangamati, Paka Bangipara and Bezpara in Darrang; Bhito Kakila Kalbator, Mout Gaon and South Sarenia gaon in Jorhat; Dilkabasti, Malibasti and Bordol in Nagaon and Baliajhar, Rajapukhuri and Saru Tezpur in Kamrup. The project is likely to expand to eight villages each in the four districts if the initial phase of the programme shows the desired results. More district may be brought under its ambit in the later phases. The state general secretary of the ICCW, Nibedita Hazarika, said Rs1.38 lakh has been allocated by UNICEF for the first phase of the programme. This amount is to be made available through the state government. The programme aims at improving the health of the mother and child, reduction of maternal morbidity (sickliness) and infant mortality rate, generating awareness among rural women and adolescent girls. Its objectives are to carry out baseline demographic information assessment of maternal and child health care and utilisation in the selected villages, identifying such services, working out practical and community based systems for emergencies and monitoring the progress through community checking of records and mid-term evaluation.