Karnataka's infant mortality rate drops over 50% since 2010-12
Bengaluru: Karnataka has seen a significant improvement in infant health outcomes, with the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) dropping by more than 50 percent over the past decade.
IMR is the number of deaths of infants under the age of one per 1,000 live births. The IMR in the state has fallen two points from 17 in 2021 to 15 in 2022, according to the Sample Registration System bulletin, as cited by Deccan Herald on Thursday.
In Karnataka, the IMR has seen a 50.4 percent drop in 2020-22 compared to the previous decade, coming down to an average of 17.3 from 34.9 in 2010-12.
Both rural and urban areas in Karnataka have seen similar progress, with close to a 50% decline in infant mortality cases. Healthcare experts attribute this positive trend to advancements in healthcare infrastructure, better neonatal care, and improved institutional delivery rates.
Dr Rajath Athreya, lead neonatologist and senior consultant at a private hospital in Bengaluru, noted that both government and private facilities have contributed to this. “Over the past few years, institutional deliveries and safe delivery practices have gone up. Many government facilities have been upgraded, and Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU) have been set up. Access to private facilities has improved in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, and vaccination coverage has also improved,” DH quoted him as saying.
Despite the progress, challenges such as premature births, infections, and congenital defects continue to persist. Athreya also highlighted the need to address regional disparities within the state, including improving human resources and infrastructure by replicating what has been done in districts and states that are doing better, and fully utilising available funds.
Meanwhile, neonatal mortality, or deaths occurring within the first 28 days of life, remains the most pressing concern. Dr Suman Rao, Head of the Department of Neonatology at a Bengaluru-based hospital, said that care given to newborn babies at birth needs to improve.
While India’s Neonatal Mortality Rate stood at 19 in both 2021 and 2022, Karnataka has marginally improved from 13 in 2021 to 12 in 2022.
“We need to improve administering antenatal corticosteroids for women with preterm pregnancies at the right time so babies have a better chance of survival. We are aiming to have at least one person in every birthing facility trained in basic newborn resuscitation,” DH quoted Dr Rao as saying.
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West Asia: India supplied 22,000 MT of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March, says MEA
New Delhi (PTI): Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, India has supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March and has received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements, the MEA said on Friday.
At his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his response to a query related to requests received from India's neighbouring countries for fuel amid the West Asia situation, also said that India is "finalising a government-to-government agreement" for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing energy security of Mauritius.
The conflict in West Asia has now stretched to nearly 50 days, with global ramifications.
"So, we have received requests from our neighbouring countries for supply of fuel, and these are being looked into, keeping in mind our own requirements, availability and refining capacity," Jaiswal told reporters.
He further said India has "supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March 2026, and further supplies have continued this month as well".
"You would recall that last month we had supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka as well," he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Mauritius last week, the MEA spokesperson said, adding, "We are finalising a government-to-government agreement for supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius".
As far as Nepal is concerned, there is an existing arrangement between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per its requirements. The supplies are continuing without any interruption, he said.
Energy supplies to Bhutan also continue according to the existing arrangement.
"As I had mentioned earlier, we have received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements. We continue to be in touch with them in this regard, and are considering the request keeping in mind our own domestic requirements and availability of fuel.
"I would also like to add that our neighbouring country governments have expressed appreciation for the uninterrupted supply, fuel supply to them during the West Asian conflict," Jaiswal said.
Global oil and gas prices surged after Iran restricted the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG trade.
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