RAYAGADA:With the inception of ‘Ama Sankalpa’ initiative by the local administration in Rayagada, the number of institutional deliveries in the tribal-dominated district has increased.
The rate of institutional delivery increased from 67 per cent in 2015-16 to 74 per cent in 2016-17. “In the current fiscal, the rate of institutional delivery has jumped to 80 per cent with the commissioning of delivery points and efforts of Anganwadi workers, ASHA worker and ICDS staff,” sources said.
District project manager of National Health Mission (NHM) Rajeswar Patnaik said out of 45 delivery points in the district, 23 were functioning previously. However, the number has increased from 23 to 38 due to Ama Sankalpa initiative, Patnaik added.
Sources further said that the Infant Mortality Rate has decreased from 48 to 33 out of 1,000 and Maternal Mortality Ratio reduced from 200 to 170 out of 1 lakh in a year.
“We have stressed on quality Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND) followed by tracking of Expected Date of Delivery (EDD), and up-gradation of Primary Health Centre. Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers and ANMs were directed to identify the high risk category of pregnant mothers and initiate immediate steps to put them in Maa Gruhas, where they can avail medical service,” said District Collector Guha Punam Tapas Kumar.
However, the road to success is still far off. Sources claimed that child marriage is a major concern in the tribal villages. The social evil is responsible for IMR and MMR cases in the district.