HYDERABAD: The infant mortality rate in Andhra Pradesh has come down to 53 per 1000 in 2005-06 from 59 in 2004, an achievement attributed to increased health awareness among mothers and institutional deliveries ensured under different schemes.

The State, however, trails behind Maharashtra, Punjab and Gujarat whose rate for 2005-06 was 38, 42 and 50 respectively per 1,000 infants while it was ahead of Orissa and Chhattisgarh that reported 65 and 71 respectively.

According to a survey conducted for 2005-06 under National Family Health Services by the Government of India and International Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai, the infant mortality rate began to fall in the State from 2002 when it was 62 compared to 66 in 1998-99.

It had been 59 since 2003.

Health schemes

Releasing details of the survey at a press conference on Wednesday, Health Minister K. Rosaiah and Family Welfare Commissioner C.B.S. Venkataramana said institutional deliveries in the State had gone up to 69 per cent in 2005-06 from 50 per cent in 1998-99 as a result of the Neo-natal Health Mission and Reproductive Child Health schemes

Vaccination

The rate of administering the seven specified vaccines to children, however, fell to 46 per cent from 72 per cent, indicating gaps at Government and beneficiary levels.

The Minister said an action programme was being launched to fill these gaps.

Lists of children who were not given vaccines were being prepared place-wise so that the benefit could be ensured to them now.

Antenatal care

The utilisation of antenatal care services by mothers had gone up to 96 per cent from 92 per cent, while knowledge of HIV/AIDS was 93 per cent among men and 74 per cent in women.

Mr. Rosaiah said a helpline with toll-free phone no. 1056 would be launched shortly to guide people to speciality hospitals for specific health complaints.

It would work round the clock 365 days a year. Doctors and para-medical staff would be recruited shortly.

Mr. Venkataramana said hospitals and primary health centres would be repaired at a cost of Rs. 80 crores shortly, and 160 neonatal intensive care units set up.

Interior and tribal areas would be provided with 92 mobile medical units.

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