After reducing its Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) (per 1,00,000 live births) to 66 during 2014-2016, Tamil Nadu has brought it down even further. The latest figure stands at 62.
On Friday, the State’s achievement in 2014-16 was lauded by the Union Government.
Tamil Nadu’s Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar received an award from Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda in New Delhi.
“According to Health Management Information System data, the MMR is 62 now. It came down from 66 to 64 and is at 62. Our aim, according to Vision 2023, is to bring down the MMR to the range of 25 to 30,” said J. Radhakrishnan, Health Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu.
To achieve an MMR on a par with developed nations, the government has done a cause-wise analysis of maternal deaths.
“We are concentrating on higher order births, nutritional causes and health problems such as hypertension. Greater coordination between private and public sector is required. We need multiple efforts to reduce MMR further,” he said.
The aim is to reduce the commonest causes of maternal deaths such as anaemia, hypertension, post-partum haemorrhage, sepsis and heart diseases by way of multiple strategies, including strengthening ongoing programmes, officials said.
