April 04, 2002
'5'
NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON INFANT MORTALITY
The reported Infant Mortality Rate in the country has been stagnating during the last decade and that has been a cause of concern. The earlier Population Policy and Five Year Plans had set the goal for reduction of IMR to the level of 60 by the year 2000. It is seen that the estimated IMR from Sample Registration System data is about 70 in 1999 which is significantly higher than the target set. The data available from various sources indicate substantial regional variation in the levels and trends in Infant Mortality Rate. In the context of the target to reduce IMR to 45 by 2007 and 28 by 2012 as laid down by the National Population Policy and Tenth Five Year Plan it is necessary to have a detailed analysis of the levels, trends and the factors contributing to these levels and the variations so that proper policy can be identified and intervention strategies designed to ensure that the target of reducing the rate across the country is achieved.
The Registrar General, India in collaboration with the Department of Family Welfare, National Commission on Population, UNFPA and UNICEF is planning to hold a two-day workshop on infant Mortality on April 11-12, 2002 in New Delhi. The workshop will discuss several issues relating to levels and trends, the determinants of infant mortality and intervention strategies for reducing the rate. The workshop will be attended by demographers, medical professionals, public health administrators, etc. It is expected that the workshop will also provide some basic inputs for programme formulation for reducing infant mortality in the near future.