India to achieve the target of SDGs before the deadline of 2030: Government

On the occasion of World Health Day, the Union Health Ministry has said that India has registered a significant decline in the maternal and infant mortality rate and it will achieve the target of Sustainable Development Goals before the deadline of 2030.

World Health Day:

• April 7 is celebrated as World Health Day.
• It is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.
• The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948.
• The theme for World Health Day 2022 is “Our Planet, Our Health".
• World Health Organization aims to focus global attention on the urgent actions needed to “keep humans and the planet healthy.”

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of India:

• Maternal Mortality Rate is the annual number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
• The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of India has declined by 10 points as per a special bulletin released by the Registrar General of India.
• It has declined from 113 in 2016-18 to 103 in 2017-19 (8.8 % decline).
• The country had been witnessing a progressive reduction in the MMR from 130 in 2014-2016, 122 in 2015-17, 113 in 2016-18, and to 103 in 2017-19.
• India has committed itself to the latest UN target for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for MMR at 70 per 1,00,000 live births by 2030.
• As per NHP (National Health Policy) 2017, the target for MMR is 100 per 1,00,000 live births by 2020.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR):

• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is defined as the ‘number of deaths of children under the age of 1 year per 1000 live births for a given year.’
• On the other hand, the death rate of children under five year of age is called Child Mortality Rate.
• The IMR in India stands at 33 per 1000 live births. The IMR of India is poor as compared to China (8), Bangladesh (27), Sri Lanka (8) and Bhutan (26).
• India has the most child deaths in the world.
• The infant mortality rate (IMR) in the country currently stands at 33 per 1,000 live births.
• Forms of infant mortality:
  • Perinatal mortality is late fetal death (22 weeks gestation to birth), or death of a newborn up to one week postpartum.
  • Neonatal mortality is newborn death occurring within 28 days postpartum. Neonatal death is often attributed to inadequate access to basic medical care, during pregnancy and after delivery. This accounts for 40–60% of infant mortality in developing countries.
  • Postneonatal mortality is the death of children aged 29 days to one year. The major contributors to postneonatal death are malnutrition, infectious disease, troubled pregnancy, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and problems with the home environment.