The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has registered a tremendous decline in the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) during the last one year. According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) 2020 report released today by the Registrar General of India (RGI-SRS), the IMR has come down from the national average of 20 to 17 in a year, which is 28. The IMR is an important health indicator that reflects the number of deaths of children up to the age of one year per 1000 live births.

The National Health Mission (NHM) has continuously and relentlessly strived to provide essential newborn care in the Government Health Institutions of the Union Territory with the active support of the Department of Health and Medical Education as a whole.

One of the comprehensive measures in this regard includes an action plan prepared by the Department of Health and Medical Education with the support of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Norway India Partnership Initiative, to reduce the IMR in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. as a road map for India Newborn Action Plan (INAP). This action plan is being implemented at all levels and focuses on community-based and facility-based interventions to accelerate infant mortality through strengthening maternal and child health programmes.

Major health facility based interventions have been strengthened which include upgradation of facility based newborn care units, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), efficient birth attendance (SBA), universalisation of essential newborn care and resuscitation, early and exclusive breastfeeding etc. . Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) have been set up in 27 specialized district/other equivalent hospitals, 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in GMCs, 65 Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSUs) at Community Health Center level and Newborn Care Corners (NBCCs) ) ) in 264 delivery points with financial and technical support from National Health Mission.

Community based interventions that are being strengthened include Home Based Newborn Care, Universal Immunization Program (UIP), Intensive Diarrhea Control Fortnight (IDCF), National Deworming Day (NDD), VHND and IMNCI; Also, Home Based Care for Young Child (HBYC) has been started across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has special Neonatal Care Units (SNCUs), Pediatric Emergency Testing and Treatment (ETAT) centres, efficiency in obstetric ICUs, targets, Family Participatory Care (FPC) and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). Some of the new measures are being implemented. And the High Dependency Unit in the Labor Room.

Mission Director NHM, J&K, Yasin M Choudhary has appreciated the efforts of the Government. Medical college; All field staff including Directorate of Health Services, Family Welfare, AYUSH, doctors, paramedical staff, ASHA workers and Program Management Unit staff for their continuous efforts in improving maternal and neonatal care in UT resulting in lower infant mortality rate. There has been a steady decrease. He emphasized on continuous efforts to provide better health care service in future so that maternal and child health indicators can be further improved in the coming years.