SCHEMES TO DECREASE MMR AND IMR

A new programme called the Reproductive and Child Health - I (RCH-I) was launched in 1997, which further integrated vertical schemes and substantially scaled up interventions related to maternal and child health. It sought to inter alia expand skilled attendance at birth and provided funding to states for round-the-clock maternal health services, emergency obstetric care and promotion of institutional deliveries.
Besides funding the states for augmenting human resources, including specialists and staff nurses, it also provided funds to local governing bodies to provide emergency transport. Ensuring availability of drugs, consumables, safe blood, equipments and trained service providers was a key focus for which states were given financial support. Also, financial incentives were provided to the staff for attending to deliveries after working hours. Reproductive and Child Health - Phase II ( RCH-II), launched in 2005 under the umbrella of the NRHM, was committed to substantially augmenting the funding to the states with a greater willingness to factor in state-specific needs and contexts through a flexible funding pool.
Subsequently, the National Rural Health Mission strengthened state endeavours to reduce both the Maternal Mortality Ratio as well as the Infant Mortality Rate by providing additional flexible and need-based funding for strengthening health systems.



The Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, it is estimated, would benefit more than 1 crore pregnant women and sick newborns at present accessing the public health system every year. It would further trigger enhanced demand for care in public health institutions on the part of over 70 lakh women, who still choose to deliver at home and make healthcare accessible to those sick newborns, who are unable to get timely and appropriate healthcare because of high out-of-pocket expenses on both transport and treatment. As a result of this enhanced demand for services created in the most vulnerable, marginalised and underserved sections of the population, India can hope to bring down the 67000 maternal deaths and 9 lakh neonatal deaths that take place in the country every yeaR.