THE UNION HEALTH and Family Welfare Department has expressed its displeasure over slow progress of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in Uttar Pradesh.
Even after five months having passed since the launch of the NRHM, the State government has neither merged the Medical Health and Family Welfare Department nor appointed director of the State Health Mission. Health indicators also highlight the pathetic condition of health services.
According to a report prepared by the Family Welfare Department, every 15 minutes a woman dies in UP and half of neonatal deaths take place within the first week of the birth. Half of the deaths occur at home and another 15 per cent on way to the hospital.
Officials of the Union Health and Family Welfare Department led by Additional Secretary S Jalaja on Friday reviewed the progress of the Rural Health Mission.
Talking to the Hindustan Times, Jalaja said she would talk to the Family Welfare Minister on the issue and urge him to expedite the implementation of the Rural Health Mission.
“Both maternal and infant mortality rates are highest in Uttar Pradesh in comparison to other States. The aim of the NRHM is to control maternal and infant mortality. District magistrates and chief medical officers of 20 districts that top the maternal and infant mortality were invited in the meeting. We informed the State officials about the measures required to control the deaths of mother and children,” Jalaja said.
“The Central Government has allotted Rs 74,592 lakh to UP for the financial year 2005-06. The aim of the mission is to provide accessible, affordable, effective, accountable and reliable healthcare to all citizens with emphasis on poorer and vulnerable sections of the population,” she said.
{{/usCountry}}“The Central Government has allotted Rs 74,592 lakh to UP for the financial year 2005-06. The aim of the mission is to provide accessible, affordable, effective, accountable and reliable healthcare to all citizens with emphasis on poorer and vulnerable sections of the population,” she said.
{{/usCountry}}Another official said that even after release of the fund, little was being done by the UP govt to ensure that poor people got better health services. The state government should at least establish committees at the State and the village levels too for proper execution of the programme, but nothing had been done so far, he added.