The Asian Age: Mumbai: Saturday, September 20, 2014.
RTI report
reveals that more that 24,000 children from the state died in 2013.
According to
an right to information (RTI) report, a total of 24,380 children aged between 0
to 6 years have died in Maharashtra in 2013-14. On an average, almost 66
children in this age group died everyday in the last one year in the state,
with 53 of them being infants.
In the last
year, a total of 19,473 infants have died due to diarrhoea, dysentery,
asphyxia, fever, hypothermia, premature delivery, low birth weight and
septicaemia, according to an RTI report furnished by Chetan Kothari.
Mr Kothari,
who has been working for the cause of public health for seven years, said,
“Every year I furnish these reports and so far the trend has shown no
improvement. The government, on the other hand, has remained unconcerned of the
health of the little ones who are dying everyday just because of their
carelessness. This state of affairs is shameful for the state.”
According to
the figures, more than 7,690 infants have died of low birth weight and over
1,278 of diarrhoea and dysentery. Also, 208 infants died of hypothermia, which
in most cases is due to lack of proper facilities in the hospital.
Dr Bhupendra
Avasthi, a paediatrician who has worked in Sion Hospital for 25 years, said,
“The problem
(of deaths) has been constant all these years. The revenue allotted by
government for paediatric care is minimal. Many babies, apart from the
malnourished ones, are born with complications and our lifestyle is also
playing a lethal role in it. Most of them either contract infections or develop
asphyxia. We have zero facilities for its reduction.”
Apart from
infants, the report mentioned that over 4,907 children aged between one and six
years died in 2013-14. Out of these 1,153 have died of diarrhoea and dysentery,
297 of fever and over 156 of pneumonia. Over four children have died everyday
due to diarrhoea and dysentery.
The data,
which has been provided by the state public health department, also revealed
that in the last seven years infant deaths due to low weight have risen, as
against the government’s claim of a fall. While in 2010-11 over 7,124 infants
died of low weight, in 2013-14 this figure has risen by 566, totalling 7,690
deaths.
Deaths due to
diarrhoea and dysentery have also risen. While over 332 infants had died of the
same in 2010-11, it has increased by 946 deaths in 2013-14, making it a total
of 1,278 infant deaths. The number has also increased among the one to six
years age group. While in 2010-11, over 271 children had fallen prey, in
2013-14 the figure rose by 872, reaching 1,153 deaths.
Deaths of
premature babies, which had decreased in 2010-11, have again risen. A total of
3,364 infants have died due to premature delivery in 2013-14.
Dr Rekha
Davar, head of the gynaecology department of JJ Hospital, said that the
increase in death rate is due to the “lack of neo-natal facilities in the
state” along with “low nutritional intake by mothers” and their children, apart
from lack of awareness.
Dr Anant
Phadke of the Jan Aarogya Abhiyan, who has worked for betterment of health
sector in rural areas said that extreme poverty, hunger, marriage at young age
and low education has led to the spike in problems.
Taking
action:
Sujata
Saunik, principal secretary of the public health department of the state, said
to improve the health of infants and children, the government has launched the
National New Born action plan, according to which it is to decrease the spike
in cases to single-digit numbers.
“The plan is
still to be implemented this year in the state. We are sure that by its
application we will be able to reduce the numbers of deaths to single digit and
improve the healthcare in state,” said Ms Saunik. Dr Chandrakala Jaiswal,
member of Unicef for the state health department said that though the scheme
has given 2030 as its deadline, they are sure that they will be able to achieve
a greater success rate soon.
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