Child, maternal health facilities worst in CG: Cong

Raipur, February 11, 2013

The Congress has said the figures produced by union health ministry during national summit for child survival and development at Mahabalipuram on February 9 confirmed that child and maternal health facilities were worst in Chhattisgarh.

“The figures have exposed ugly face of BJP government which posed indifference towards child and maternal health services,” said PCC president Nandkumar Patel and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey.

“These figures have also been confirmed by National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Sample Registration System SRS),” they added.

“According to union health ministry’s report, average infant mortality rate in Chhattisgarh is 48 while that of India is 44,” they said.

“The child and maternal health facilities in states were rated under best, better, average, poor and worst categories. Unfortunately, Chhattisgarh has been positioned in worst category,” they said.

“The BJP government’s indifference towards child and maternal health facilities has put Chhattisgarh among states like Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland,” they said.

Pointing that malnutrition rate in Chhattisgarh too was higher than that of other states the duo said about fifty percent malnourished children die every year due to lack of proper or no treatment.

“The Centre has set a target of bringing down infant and maternal mortality rate by 75% as compared to that of year 1990 but the union health ministry doubts where Chhattisgarh government would be able to achieve this millennium development goal,” they said.

“The state government should stop patting its back on the basis of fake figures and seriously take measures to improve child and maternal health facilities. The state is presently in worst position because the central funds given under NRHM and Janani Suraksha Yojna go to corrupt hands,” they said.