AARYAN SHARMA
JAMMU: At least five infants have been losing their life daily in Jammu and Kashmir for the past three years, Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat told Legislative Council on Friday.
The shocking revelation by the Health Minister in the Legislative Council raises questions over the India Today survey last year wherein Jammu and Kashmir had been adjudged as number one state of the country for managing healthcare. The prestigious award was conferred to the then Health Minister Ch Lal Singh and other senior officers at the glittering function organized during India Today Conclave in New Delhi on 6th November 2015.
Responding to a question of PDP MLC Firdous Tak, the minister, in a written reply said that between 2013-14 and 2015-16, 6334 infants have died in the State.
Giving details of the year wise break up of infant mortality, Bhagat said 2,034 deaths occurred in 2015-16, 2,008 in 2014-15 and 2,292 in 2013-14.
The highest number of infant deaths in 2015-16 was reported from Jammu district (557) and the lowest from Ramban (4). No infant death was reported from central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
The minister said that as per a sample registration system, the infant mortality rate in the State was 51 in 2007, adding that it had come down to 37 in 2013 which was better than the national average of 40.
