The Union Health Ministry has initiated several measures to meet the United Nation's Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG 5) which mandates every member country to reduce by three-quarters in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by the year 2015.
To accelerate the pace of reduction in maternal and infant and child mortality, the government has initiated key strategies and interventions which include the launch of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), a cash benefit scheme to promote institutional delivery with a focus on Below Poverty Line (BPL) and SC/ST pregnant women. The Health ministry is also providing services for essential and emergency obstetric and newborn care at health facilities like district hospitals, community health centres, other sub-district level facilities and 24 X 7 primary health centres.
As per the UNICEF report titled “State of the World’s Children, 2009” India ranks 46th in maternal mortality ratio, 51st in infant mortality rate and 49th in under five mortality rate.
The ministry has also augmented the availability of skilled manpower by means of different skill- based trainings and early detection and appropriate management of acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea and other infections in children; treatment of malnourished children and supplementation of micro-nutrients, namely Vitamin A and Iron Folic Acid.
Maternal, infant and under five mortality are influenced by a range of socio-economic determinants besides medical causes such as haemorrhage, sepsis, hypertensive disorders, obstructed labour, abortion etc and in the case of infant and under-five mortality sepsis, low birth weight, asphyxia, pneumonia, and diarrhoea. Socio-economic factors like low level of education, poverty, cultural misconceptions and lack of access to services are also contributory factors.
The ministry has also initiated measures for prevention and treatment of anaemia in pregnant and lactating women by supplementation with Iron and Folic Acid tablets and appointment of an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) for every 1000 population to facilitate accessing of health care services by the community.
Under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the government has set targets for reduction in maternal mortality ratio to less than 100 per 100,000 live births and in infant mortality rate to less than 30 per 1000 live births by the year 2012.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals to be achieved by 2015 that respond to the world's main development challenges. The MDGs are drawn from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration that was adopted by 189 nations and signed by 147 heads of state and governments during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.