Despite adverse geographical conditions and other challenges, the significant decline in the neonatal mortality rate, infant mortality rate and mortality rate of children below 5 years of age in the state is proof of the strengthening of the health services of the state. This achievement is the result of the leadership and continuous efforts of Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, on whose initiative institutional delivery was promoted across the state and better medical facilities were made available to pregnant women through ASHAs. As a result, a decrease in the neonatal mortality rate was recorded in the state. According to the data of the year 2022 released by the Registrar General of the Government of India, the neonatal mortality rate in the state is 15 per thousand live births, infant mortality rate is 21 per thousand live births and mortality rate of children below 5 years of age is 25 per thousand live births. Which shows a huge reduction compared to previous years. This improvement is a direct salute to the strong health infrastructure of the state and the initiatives taken by the Health Department on the ground. The credit for this goes to the Medical Health and Medical Education Minister of the state, Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat. Under whose guidance institutional delivery was encouraged across the state and special campaigns were run through ASHAs for 100% vaccination and proper care of pregnant women. Along with this, the benefits of other schemes including Khushiyon Ki Sawari Yojana were also provided to pregnant women. Which proved to be important in the decline in infant mortality rate. Apart from this, the scope of facilities in medical units for the care of newborns was also increased across the state. In which 4 neonatal ICUs were established in the state hospitals. Apart from this, 9 Special New Born Care Units, 34 New Born Stabilization Units, 289 Newborn Child Care Corners and 47 Kangaroo Mother Care Units are being operated. Whereas in the year 2024-25, New Born Care Units were made functional in District Hospital Dehradun and Rudraprayag. Due to which a total of 4,643 newborns were successfully treated in Neonatal ICU, Special New Born Care Unit in the financial year 2024-2025. Along with this, under the Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Iron Folic Acid Syrup doses were given to children aged 6-59 months. Along with this, Iron Folic Acid Pink Tablets were given to children aged 5 to 9 years across the state. On the other hand, under the Stop Diarrhea Campaign, ORS and Zinc coverage of children aged 0 to 5 years was 90%. Due to which children were protected from serious diseases. 15 days on-site hand holding was done by the specialist doctors of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital New Delhi for the Special New Born Care Unit workers in four districts of the state, Dehradun, Pithoragarh, Nainital and Almora. This initiative brought about a vast improvement in the clinical efficiency and service standards of the doctors of the state.
