Tamil Nadu: Child Mortality Drops To Nearly 8%, State Govt Targets Zero Maternal Deaths, Currently At 39%

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian emphasised the availability of critical medicines for emergencies, including ASV (Anti-Snake Venom) and ARC (Anti-Rabies Vaccine), in over 200 PHCs.

Ma Subramanian said that even child mortality has reduced to 7.7% this year.

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Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian conducted a review meeting with District and City Health Officers in Chennai on Friday, discussing key health indicators and ongoing initiatives.

The Minister highlighted significant progress in reducing maternal and child mortality rates across the state. "Maternal mortality has reduced to 39.4% from last year's 42%. We aim to achieve the target of no maternal deaths. Even child mortality has reduced to 7.7% this year," said Ma Subramanian.

It may be noted that a report on The Hindu in July this year said that the maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Tamil Nadu dropped by six points in 2023-2024. Currently, the MMR ratio is at 45.5 per one lakh live births.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian today held a review meeting with all District Health officers and city Health officers in Chennai pic.twitter.com/yBMQ0boczo

— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2024

 

He also emphasised the availability of critical medicines for emergencies, stating, "ASV (Anti-Snake Venom) and ARC (Anti-Rabies Vaccine) medicines are now stocked in over 200 primary health centres statewide, ensuring timely treatment for snake and dog bite cases."

The meet comes in the wake of doctor's protest after an attack on a doctor by a patient at a Chennai government hospital.

On Wednesday, Dr. Balaji Jagannathan, an oncologist at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital, was stabbed seven times, allegedly by a man named Vigneswaran, whose mother was undergoing chemotherapy at the hospital. Earlier, the health minister also confirmed that the injured doctor is in stable condition and under safe care.

After the stabbing of a doctor in Chennai, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian announced on Wednesday that doctors had called off their protest after receiving assurances about their safety. "Doctors have withdrawn their planned protest following our assurances to ensure their safety," the health minister said during a press conference.