Maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the western Indian state of Gujarat has risen in the last three years, but infant and neonatal mortality incidences have come down, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said in its report. The MMR (female deaths per 1,00,000 live births) rose between 2014 and 2016, from 72 in 2013-14 to 80 in 2014-15 and then to 85 in 2015-16, according to the report on General and Social Sector for the year ended March 2016 tabled in the Assembly on Friday.
The CAG said with this pace, it will be difficult for Gujarat to achieve the MMR target of 67 (per 1,00,000 live births) by March 2017 set under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). "The state achieved success in reducing IMR and NMR (infant and neonatal mortality). However, the MMR changed unfavourably from 72 in 2013-14 to 80 in 2014-15 and to 85 in 2015-16," the CAG said.
"Considering the pace and direction of achievement of the goals, it would be difficult for the state to achieve the target of 67 by March 2017," it said, while observing that implementation of Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) did not assist in achieving the MMR goals. The JSSK was launched by the Centre on June 2011 with an objective to provide free health facilities to pregnant women and sick newborns. The CAG said MMR was higher than state average in the districts of Valsad (94), Dahod (93) and Surat (89)
