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‘Health sector improving at a slow pace’

Express news service

Posted online: Monday, November 26, 2007 at 0000 hrs IST

Kolkata, November 25
The performance of the ruling Left Front government in the field of health and family welfare sector is not appreciably better than its non-Left counterparts in other states. The last National Family Health Survey (NFHS) (2005-06) conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (GOI), indicates that although things are changing for the better, the scenario is far from a very positive one, at least as far as nutritional aspects of women and children is concerned.

The findings of the NFHS may not be wholly accurate but are nonetheless significant in that they indicate a broad trend of slow improvement.

For instance, when it comes to children suffering from anaemia, 69 per cent of the surveyed children in the age group of 6 and 35 months were found to be anaemic. In terms of residential status, 58 per cent of surveyed children in urban areas were found to be anaemic while the corresponding figure for rural children is 72 per cent.

In Kolkata alone, 64 per cent of the total children covered in the survey were found to be anaemic. But there is an improvement over the 1998-99 figure in which 78 per cent of the total children surveyed were found to be anaemic. Again, 63.8 per cent of women in the age group of 15 and 49 years were found to be anaemic which is only a slight improvement over the 1998-99 scenario when 62.7 per cent women were anaemic.

The state government authorities have, however, assured that they have pulled up its socks to reduce cases of anaemia.

“We have undertaken several programmes in this direction in recent times. Given the progress, instances of anaemia will come down to less than 50 per cent in the next two years,” said Sanchita Bakshi, Director of Health Services, state Health department.

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‘Health sector improving at a slow pace’ Express news service Posted online: Monday, November 26, 2007 at 0000 hrs IST Kolkata, November 25 The performance of the ruling Left Front government in the field of health and family welfare sector is not appreciably better than its non-Left counterparts in other states. The last National Family Health Survey (NFHS) (2005-06) conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (GOI), indicates that although things are changing for the better, the scenario is far from a very positive one, at least as far as nutritional aspects of women and children is concerned. The findings of the NFHS may not be wholly accurate but are nonetheless significant in that they indicate a broad trend of slow improvement. For instance, when it comes to children suffering from anaemia, 69 per cent of the surveyed children in the age group of 6 and 35 months were found to be anaemic. In terms of residential status, 58 per cent of surveyed children in urban areas were found to be anaemic while the corresponding figure for rural children is 72 per cent. In Kolkata alone, 64 per cent of the total children covered in the survey were found to be anaemic. But there is an improvement over the 1998-99 figure in which 78 per cent of the total children surveyed were found to be anaemic. Again, 63.8 per cent of women in the age group of 15 and 49 years were found to be anaemic which is only a slight improvement over the 1998-99 scenario when 62.7 per cent women were anaemic. The state government authorities have, however, assured that they have pulled up its socks to reduce cases of anaemia. “We have undertaken several programmes in this direction in recent times. Given the progress, instances of anaemia will come down to less than 50 per cent in the next two years,” said Sanchita Bakshi, Director of Health Services, state Health department.