GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4310
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13TH DECEMBER, 2019
PNEUMONIA IN RURAL AREAS
4310. SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE:
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) the number of deaths of children reported related to pneumonia and diarrhoea during the last ten years in the country, State/UT-wise;
(b) the steps being taken to create awareness about pneumonia and diarrhoea in rural areas; and
(c) whether the Government has set any framework to achieve 2025 Global Action Plan for pneumonia and diarrhoea and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a): The State/UT-wise number of deaths reported in children related to pneumonia and diarrhea from 2009-2019 in Health Management Information System (HMIS) is at Annexure
(b): Under Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent health and Nutrition (RMNCHA+N) program of National Health Mission, the Government of India is undertaking following steps to create awareness about pneumonia and diarrhea in rural areas:
Defeat Diarrhoea (D2) Campaign- Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) was extended upto September month in 2019 as Defeat Diarrhoea campaign with focus on rural areas. The purpose of this campaign is to reduce deaths due to diarrhoea through mass media, social media, print & interpersonal communication activities and establishment of D2 camps in strategic health & non-health locations for demonstrating preparation of ORS solution and Zinc use and for promotion of hand washing & sanitation.
In November 2019, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched SAANS (Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully) Initiative to accelerate action to reduce deaths due to Childhood Pneumonia. In order to trigger behaviour change for protection and prevention from pneumonia and to improve care seeking, under SAANS initiative a 3600 communication campaign has been developed with use of mass media such as television, radio, community radio, social media, interpersonal communication by health workers, banners and posters in community and facilities to create awareness among families and parents on pneumonia
(c): The integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) released in 2013 by World Health Organization and UNICEF aims to reduce deaths from pneumonia to fewer than 3 children per 1000 live births, and from diarrhea to less than 1 in 1000 live births by 2025.
The Government of India under Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent health and Nutrition (RMNCHA+N) program of National Health Mission is implementing following interventions under Protect, Prevent and Treat framework to achieve Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea by 2025.
Defeat Diarrhoea (D2) initiative has been launched for reducing child deaths due to diarrhea in the country. The initiative includes promoting use of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and Zinc tablet among children by improved availability, pre-positioning of ORS to households and demonstration of preparation, promoting handwashing, organizing campaigns for enhanced advocacy and communication on prevention and control of diarrhoea, facility level strengthening to manage cases of dehydration, interpersonal activities by Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) during Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Days (VHSND) and mobile health teams for urban areas and hard to reach terrains for intensified diarrhoea control activities.
SAANS (Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully) Initiative has been launched to accelerate action to reduce deaths due to Childhood Pneumonia. The SAANS initiative encompasses a three tiered strategy: i) National Childhood Pneumonia Management Guidelines on treatment and management of Childhood Pneumonia; ii) Skill building and training of service providers for identification and standardized management of Pneumonia; and iii) a 3600 communication SAANS Campaign to ensure greater awareness on childhood Pneumonia among families and parents
Facility based-Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (F-IMNCI) training to build capacity of Medical Officer and Nurses in Primary Health Centres, First Referral Unit, Community Health Centres, and District Hospital on Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) and Diarrhoea Management.
Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) focuses on Measles, Haemophilus Influenzae (B), Rota virus and Pneumococcal Vaccine for prevention of pneumonia and diarrhoea. Mission Indradhanush is targeted to immunize children who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated i.e. those that have not been covered during the rounds of routine immunization for various reasons. Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 2.0 is being planned as per road-map for achieving 90% full immunization coverage across the country.
Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for first six months and appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices are promoted under Mothers’ Absolute Affection (MAA) initiative.