Lockdown Impact: Infant Mortality on The Rise?

17 Feb Lockdown Impact: Infant Mortality on The Rise?

Context:

• Recently, a report stated that more than 12,500 infants have died during the lockdown.
• Mumbai had the highest mortality rate among the other districts in Maharashtra.

Background:

• The lockdown had impacted adversely with respect to having access to the health care facilities for the past year.
• Infants, who need immediate and urgent medical care, in most cases have been deprived of medical facilities.

Issues:

• The ratio of the doctor to patients in India is abysmally low.
• During the pandemic, most doctors were occupied or prioritized dealing with Covid.
• Availability of life-saving equipment plays a big role in defining the life or death moment for a newborn. 
• The early age of pregnancy plays a major role in the issue.

Way Ahead:

• Infrastructure & Systemic Changes in the health structure are a must.
• Equitable access to health care, the penetration among the poor should be the aim.
• Political will and making sure to make available funds in a timely manner could help deal with red-tapism. 
• Poshan scheme and Ayushman Bharat could be integrated with the help of the individual states in including the larger mass.

(The Hindu)

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Ajit Satapathy