BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is making significant strides in curbing children’s mortality with the under-five mortality rate in the State declining at faster rate than the national average for the first time in 2010.Under-5 mortality has declined by six points from 84 in 2009 to 78 in 2010 surpassing the national average of five points from 64 in 2009 to 59 in 2012. The State, in fact, has recorded the second highest drop in Under-5 mortality after Madhya Pradesh during the year, the latest Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2011 report has revealed.Odisha has slipped to the fourth among states with high children’s mortality rates in the country where Assam hogs the top with highest overall under-5 mortality rate of 83 deaths per 1,000 live birth. Madhya Pradesh is second with 82, Uttar Pradesh 79, Odisha 78, Rajasthan 69, Bihar 64 and Chhattisgarh 61, the survey has brought out.The acceleration in the decline has been attributed to implementation of programmes under NRHM. Following the launch of NRHM the Under-5 mortality has declined by 12.6 points from a high of 90.6 in 2005 to the present 78, Health Department sources said.With focus on improved management of illnesses and provisioning prompt health care to children from 0 to 5 years, which also includes nutrition, interventions at all levels right from the ASHA and ANM have been put in place.Recognition of risk conditions, management and referral programme has been implemented in 20 identified high IMR districts of the State. Sick baby stabilisation units for focused interventions have been established in the 30 districts while more than 450 newborn care corners have been set up at the hospitals across the State.Nutritional rehabilitation centres have been established in five backward and vulnerable districts of Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Nabarangpur and Kandhamal to address the malnourished children and achieving national nutritional goals, sources put forth.
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