The Hindu : New Delhi News : “High maternal and infant mortality a matter of shame”

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Saturday, Apr 05, 2008
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“High maternal and infant mortality a matter of shame”

Staff Reporter

Says Health Minister at Convocation of Lady Hardinge Medical College

– Photo:Rajeev Bhatt

ALL SMILES: Students line up to receive their degrees from Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss at the Annual Day and Convocation of Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: “High maternal and infant mortality rate, skewed sex ratio and malnourishment among children are issues that continue to be a matter of shame for India. The Government alone can’t ensure that these problems are dealt with; we need the support of young doctors,” said Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss at the 92nd Annual Day and Convocation of Lady Hardinge Medical College here on Friday.

Present at the ceremony were Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Panabaka Lakshmi, Director-General Health Services R. K. Srivastava and Lady Hardinge Medical College Principal and Medical Superintendent G. K. Sharma.

Encouraging the doctors to keep pace with technological advances in medical sciences, Dr. Ramadoss said: “We will soon launch the National Urban Health Mission. For us, while primary health care is vital, we wish to improve the tertiary level care, especially in the government institutions.”

The Minister also announced a comprehensive re-development plan envisaged for Lady Hardinge Medical College: “The new-look Lady Hardinge Medical College, which will bring along a better infrastructure in the form of new buildings, hostels and technical equipment, could become a state-of-the-art tertiary care centre. We also plan to strengthen the existing medical colleges, both in terms of infrastructure and manpower, so that we produce the best medical graduates. We need to look into and find a solution to the acute shortage of trained medical staff that we are currently facing. Medical students who are planning to go abroad should come back to work in India, because we also offer good opportunities here,” added the Minister.

He also warned the youth against tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse and cautioned them against leading a sedentary lifestyle: “The youth are our future and are at great risk now. With the rise in cases of diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases and obesity among the younger population, the youth need to adopt a healthy lifestyle.”

The Minister also asked that medical graduate to serve in the rural sector.

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