Infant, child mortality rates drop in Haryana: Minister

Chandigarh: Haryana's infant mortality rate (IMR) and child mortality rate (CMR) have dropped following intervention of health authorities in the state, state Health Minister Anil Vij said on Monday.

"The multi-pronged strategy adopted by the Haryana government has helped to reduce IMR from 41 to 36 per thousand live births and CMR from 45 to 40 per thousand live births," said Vij, adding the decline has been noticed as per the July 2016 statistics.

Vij, who launched the "Mothers' Absolute Affection" (MAA) programme for promotion of breastfeeding at a state level function held at Panchkula, near here, said that each district will hold campaigns to educate masses towards improving the infant and child feeding indicators.

He said that this is crucial for prevention of malnutrition.

"Breastfeeding is the most natural and cost-effective intervention and should be promoted at all levels," Vij added.