Telangana State today bagged second position in infant health care at national level after Haryana , according to Health Minister Dr C Lakshma Reddy. Union Health Minister during a review revealed this that the youngest state of Telangana stood second in infant care in the state he said. In a release the health minister attributed the award to the vision of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
He said that last year 29000 infants were admitted into SNCUs and sent back more than 75 per cent of them on complete health care services and treatment. Extending thanks to KCR for his steps towards infant care and to reduce mortality he said that Telangana has strengthened the hospitals and providing better health care services. HE claimed that IMR (infant mortality rate) in Telangana has come down to 31 per cent to 39 per cent which is half in the national average due to initiative of the state government. With this Telangana stood by the side of other best states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu in providing the better health care services to the children the health minister claimed.
In addition to 21 SNCU (Sick Newborn Care Unit) the government will soon open up 7 more SNCUs that are ready. With this every district will get one SNCU to cater to infant health needs he averred. We have sent related proposals to the centre he said.
The minister further said that only 15 per cent of children born with sickness and health problems need the services of the SNCUs. Of 6.50 lakh children born every year in Telangana only one lakh children need such health care he said. (NSS