Campaign For Well-Being Of Newborns And Mothers Launching a campaign for maternal and child health here on Monday, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav blamed the previous government for not doing enough to improve health scenario in the state. Titled ‘Hausla’ (courage), the campaign aims to curb maternal, neonatal, infant and child deaths in UP so that national and global targets could be met. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he said, “The health figures cause serious concern and I wonder what kept my predecessor away from acting for the cause of mother and child health.” Akhilesh added that the state has suffered on many fronts because of the previous government. “Had something been done in the past five years, UP would have faired better on many indicators,” he added. Technical support for the campaign has been provided by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in pursuance of the memorandum of cooperation signed between the foundation and UP government in December 2012. Country director of the campaign, Girendre Beeharry said the aim is to take small initiatives which will yield a big life saving impact. “Simple technology and practices can help save thousands of children and hundreds of mothers,” he said. Death is only one part of the story, disease another. Disease prolongs the suffering and eventually causes death in most cases. Principal secretary health Pravir Kumar is of the view that the vicious circle of disease and death was a silent tsunami which kills more persons than those killed in the recent flash floods in Uttrakhand. He cited many statistics to prove the point, saying 11 out of 1,000 children born in UP die in the first hour of birth while 17 out of 1,000 die in the first day of life. As many as 25 out of 1,000 kids are not able to live longer than a week and 38 die in the first month. This adds to 22,000 children dying before completing their first year of life in the state. In case of expectant mothers he said 55 women die during childbirth due to preventable causes. Minister for health and family welfare, Ahmed Hasan said that the campaign had come at an opportune time when the state was already showing political commitment to protect the lives and safeguard the health of women and children. “Through innovations and interventions, HAUSLA will reach the remotest corners of Uttar Pradesh, with a focus on equity so that no mother and child suffered disease or death,” he said. Mission director, National Rural health Mission, Amit Ghosh added that Hausla would look at specific strategies such as promoting breastfeeding soon after birth and letting the mother hold the baby to save him/her from the ills of hypothermia. “A series of measures will be taken to tackle health challenges such as address the current shortage of human resources, initiate skillsbased training, involve stakeholders like Panchayati Raj Institutions, local leaders, including religious heads and representatives to mobilise the community and monitor the availability and quality of health programs in a topdown approach,” he said. Critics said the government had simply repackaged an old scheme. “The campaign is largely an information, education and communication initiative and has brought all existing programmes under one big umbrella besides glamorising the CM,” said an officer in the health ministry. NRHM meet held Lucknow: The State Health Mission —a wing of the National Rural Health Mission that gives a direction to health policies—met on Monday. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav who is the head of the SHM convened the meeting in which unaccomplished targets of the NRHM's first phase were discussed .Officials said matters related to reproductive health, national disease control programme and integration of alternative pathology were discussed. THE CHALLENGE AHEAD CHILD HEALTH 4.05 lakh children under the age of five years die of preventable reasons like pneumonia and diarrhea 41% of these children die within 7 days 11.7% die between 7 – 29 days 21.2% die between 29 days – 1 year 25.9% die between 1-5 years Top ten causes of child deaths include: Perinatal condition, respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, other infections and parasitic diseases, malaria, nutritional deficiencies, ill defined conditions, unintentional injuries, congenital anomalies and fever of unknown origin MATERNAL HEALTH Some 345 out of one lakh women die of pregnancy or related complications each year in UP This totals to death of 22,000 expectant mothers each year Deaths occur on account of reasons like infection or excessive loss of blood that can be addressed through simple technology and health practices As of now, MMR in UP is quite far from the target of 172, a benchmark which was to be achieved by the end of 11th five year plan (2012)