Bengaluru. July 17.The Infant Mortality Rate(IMR) in Karnataka is 2% (Around 20 per 1000 live births) and our aim is to bring it down to single digit, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.

The Chief Minister in his address at the ‘Conference on Updates in Speciality Paediatrics’ organised by the Rainbow Children’s Hospital advocated the need for bringing down Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate in the state.

The IMR and MMR is much lower in the state except for 5-6 districts which have dragged the state a bit down. “So we are giving special focus for these districts. For the first time in the history of the state we have identified these aspirational taluks. We are working with high parameters on Education, Health, Nutrition, Women and Child Welfare in these taluks. Efforts are on a war footing to bring down MMR in these 5-6 districts,” he said and appealed to the medical fraternity to join hands with the government in this endeavor.

Emphasis on eradicating malnutrition

Budgetary allocation for health and education has been increased. Programs are being implemented to eradicate malnutrition. Nutritious food is being served for children at Anganwadis and children of the poor working class.

The Chief Minister emphasised the role of Paediatricians in maintaining the health of a child from the conception stage to adulthood stage.