Telangana Second Best In Infant Healthcare

Telangana has bagged the second position in the infant healthcare rankings, behind Haryana, according to Health Minister Dr C Lakshma Reddy.

The union health minister during a review had announced this, he said.

Reddy said that last year 29,000 infants were admitted into SNCUs (Sick Newborn Care Unit), and more than 75% of them were sent back on after being offered complete healthcare services and treatment. Telangana had significantly strengthened its hospitals and was providing better healthcare services now, as a result of which IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) in the state had come down to 31% from 39%, which was half the national average, he claimed. With this Telangana stood by the side of other top-ranked states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu in providing healthcare services to children, Reddy said.

In addition to the 21 SNCUs, the government would soon open 7 more SNCUs that were ready, Reddy announced. With that every district would get one SNCU, he said. "We have sent related proposals to the Centre," he said.

The minister further said that only 15% of the children born with sickness and health problems needed the services of the SNCUs. Of 6.50 lakh children were born every year in Telangana, and only one lakh children needed such healthcare, he said.