In an effort to reduce infant mortality rate (IMR), over one lakh 18 thousand newly born babies were provided medical treatment by setting up Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres in the districts of Madhya Pradesh. The figure of children is infinitely more than last year. There is a considerable reduction in the morality of children every year in the state. Minister of state for Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education, Ayush, Mahendra Hardia informed that due to the efforts of State government the rate of IMR has reduced to 70 from 79. The strategic planning and actions initiated by Madhya Pradesh Government for reducing the deaths of children, were appreciated by Union Government at national meeting. The Centre Government asked the representatives of other states' health department to study Madhya Pradesh model and adopt in their states. The Minister informed that the reduction of IMR is top priority of the Government. Therefore, strategic efforts have been initiated for last year. He further said that the squads of ground level health workers have been trained to promote breast feeding under National Rural Health Mission. The squads will create awareness among people of breast feeding upto six months after the birth of children while visiting village to village. Besides, efforts are being made to set up primary health centres for the care of neonatal. Hardia further informed that Neonatal Intensive Care Units have been set up for intensive care of the newly born babies at 22 districts of the state. More than 18 thousand newly born children were administered medical treatment in these districts. The lives of 29 thousand babies have been saved by these units. The required medical staff members have been posted in the units. The districts where NICUs have been set up include Guna, Shivpuri, Sehore, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Satna, Jabalpur, Bhind, Gwalior, Katni, Ujjain, Vidisha, Datia, Bhopal, Hoshangabad, Khargone, Khandwa, Shahdol, Raisen, Neemuch, Chhattarpur and Sheopur. At the end of this year, NICU will be installed at Jhabua, Ashok Nagar, and Seoni districts. With the opening of NICUs units at every districts, the lives of 75 thousand neonatal can be saved every year and rate of mortality of infant will come down, the minister said. He said that the rate of deaths of infants are also being reduced by Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres. 234 Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres have been set up in the state. More than one lakh malnourished and severe malnourished children can be administered treatment at these centres. The Minister informed that senior health officials of various states had taken part in national meeting of National Rural Health Mission in Bhopal. At the meeting, centre Health Secretary Smt. Sujata Rao had lauded the efforts of Madhya Pradesh government for opening NICU and Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres with a view to reducing IMR. She promoted representatives of other States to view the model of MP and apply in their states in line with it. Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and recently Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister visited Madhya Pradesh to see model and health management.