Child mortality has dipped to 35 per 1,000 births.

India has taken rapid strides in reducing child mortality since 2014, from 45 per 1,000 live births to 35 per 1,000 live births in 2019.

The government launches a new app, Paalan 1000, to guide parents.
‘Paalan 1000’ focuses on children’s cognitive development in the first two years of their lives.
The app will provide practical advice to caregivers on what they can do in their everyday routine and help clear up doubts.
The first 1,000 days establish a solid platform for a child’s physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, and social health.

The child mortality rate, also known as the under-five mortality rate, refers to the probability of dying between birth and exactly five years of age expressed per 1,000 live births.

In India, an estimated 26 million children are born every year.
As per Census 2011, the share of children (0-6 years) accounts for 13% of the total population in the country.
The child health programme under the National Health Mission (NHM) comprehensively integrates interventions that improve child survival and addresses factors contributing to infant and under-five mortality.
It is now well recognised that child survival cannot be addressed in isolation as it is intricately linked to the health of the mother, which is further determined by her health and development as an adolescent.
Therefore, the concept of the continuum of care, which emphasises care during critical life stages in order to improve child survival, is being followed under the national program.

Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) program:
It is to influence the key interventions for reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality.
Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram:
It entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery, including Caesarean section.
Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram:

It is to improve the overall quality of life of children, enabling all children to achieve their full potential and also provide comprehensive care to all the children in the community.
This program involves screening children from birth to 18 years of age for the 4 Ds- Defects at Birth, Diseases, Deficiencies, and Developmental Delays—spanning 32 common health conditions for early detection and free treatment and management, including surgeries at the tertiary level.
The Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS):

The ICDS is a major national program that addresses the needs of children under the age of six.
It seeks to provide children with an integrated package of services,, including supplementary nutrition, healthcare and pre-school education.
Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram:
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched a health program for adolescents in the age group of 10-19 years, which would target their nutrition reproductive health and substance abuse, among other issues.

Pic Courtesy: freepik

Content Source: The Hindu