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“Over half of under-5 deaths in our country could be easily prevented with simple interventions”, said a group of national, international experts and key officials convened by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at National Conference of Child Survival and Development.
The conference is significant as India’s forthcoming Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programme Phase-II gets ready for launch next year to improve the health and living conditions of the poorest across India.
Nearly one in four under-5 deaths worldwide occur in India, largely due to causes that can be easily prevented. It is estimated that out of over 2 million child deaths that occurred in India last year, at least 57% could be averted using simple, proven, high impact interventions such as: oral rehydration therapy, antibiotics, breast-feeding / infant feeding, immunization and vitamin A, and newborn resuscitation.
At the opening of a two-day National Conference for Child Survival and Development, in Delhi, the Chief Guest, Mrs. Panabaka Lakshmi, Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare said, “I am happy to see us gathered here today to work for a cause we hold most dear to our hearts … India has joined the Child Survival Partnership. Child health has always been a priority for us.”
The National Conference for Child Survival and Development will produce a roadmap to increase the chances of children to survive and develop over the next ten years. The Conference under India’s leadership will also galvanise global and national commitment and action for accelerated reduction of child mortality worldwide, through universal coverage of essential, cost-effective child health interventions.
The Conference was flagged off by Mrs Panabaka Lakshmi, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, in presence of Dr Saeeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission in charge of women and children. Mr Prasanna Hota, Secretary, Department of Family Welfare, Mrs Reva Nayyar, Secretary Women and Child Development, Dr S Y Quraishi, Project Director, NACO Cecilio Adorna, UNICEF representative to India were also present at the inaugural session highlighting the holistic and convergent approach of interventions recommended.
There is also a high level delegation of the global child survival partners and international agencies, academic institutions, and child-centred organizations from various countries including Kenya, France, Italy, the United States and Canada, who are participating.
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