Infant mortality rate slides in HP, lowest among northern states

Himachal Pradesh has the lowest Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in North India and eight lowest in the country, excluding union territories. As per the SRS bulletin 2023, which was released this year, the IMR in the state has declined to 14 from 17 in 2020, indicating improved healthcare and nutrition for mothers and newborns. “In six years from 2017 to 2023, the IMR has dropped from 22 to 14 in the state. It’s a significant decline,” said Dr Rajesh Guleri, Deputy Director, NHM. “Our aim is get the IMR in single digits, and efforts are being made to achieve the goal,” said Dr Guleri.

As per the SRS bulletin, only four states have managed to bring their IMR to single digit. These are Manipur (3), Kerala (5), Goa (6) and Sikkim (6). Meanwhile, the neighbouring states of Punjab (17), Haryana (26) and Uttarakhand (20) have higher IMR than Himachal. The average IMR of the country is 25.

Dr Guleri attributed the consistently sliding IMR in the state to a host of measures taken to enhance healthcare facilities in the state. “Several initiatives have been taken to promote institutional births and nutrition of mothers. Our institutional deliveries have increased to 96 per cent, resulting in newborns getting essential care and treatment at the right time,” he said.

He further shared that 16 Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU) have been established for the care of sick newborns, and five new SNCUs are being established. “Besides, newborn care centres and newborn stabilisations units have been established at civil hospitals and community health centres to enhance the quality of care for newborns,” he said.

ASHA workers have also been roped in to reduce the infant mortality rate as much as possible. “The ASHA workers make six to seven visits in the first 42 days to provide home-based care to the newborn and the mother,” said Dr Guleri.

Tough terrain in most parts of the state poses a challenge in providing prompt care of the newborns. “Additional SNCUs and newborn stabilisation units are being planned to address this challenge as well,” said Dr Guleri.

Declining IMR in Himachal

Year  IMR

2017  22

2018  19

2020  17

2022  14