High court admits petition blaming poor reach of public health services.
Gujarat high court has admitted a public interest litigation (PIL) with regard to the poor health indicators and gaps in health infrastructure in Gujarat. The PIL was filed by Dinesh Bagda, chairperson of village social justice committee and a resident of Amreli.
The PIL draws attention to the poor health indicators and health infrastructure in general, and is concerned with various statistical aspects highlighted by the Health Review- Gujarat 2007-08 and other surveys and heath bulletin in particular.
The Health Review-Gujarat 2007-2008 conducted by the Commissionerate, Health, Medical Services and Medical Education, Gujarat, has puts forward startling facts described as under: (I) Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) — it is 172/lakh live birth, it means approx 24,000 (as per 2001 census) pregnant women lost their life due to maternity related reasons, which is very high. It suggests that the reach of public health services to such women, even in time of emergency, is either not accessible or not preferred by most families.
Similarly, the National Family Health Survey- III (2005-06), gives a disturbing picture of Maternal and Child health care in Gujarat. The health infrastructure in Gujarat as per the RHS Bulletin, March 2007, ministry of health & family welfare, government of India, discloses shortage of health personnel.
The PIL states that there is a vacancy of ANMs in 89 sub-centres of Amreli district alone.
There exists a linear chain of poor public health infrastructure, which discourages people to avail public health facilities/services, and which in turn leads to poor public health condition.
The petitioner (Dinesh Bagda) has prepared certain data regarding the health condition of people in the state. The child mortality rate in the state is also very high. Around 1-20 children die within a year, while 1-16 children die before reaching five years of age. This apart, the infant mortality rate (IMR) in rural areas of Gujarat is 61 per cent higher than in urban areas of the state and girls face a higher mortality risk than boys. Similarly, the Ante-Natal Care (ANC) in the state is very poor; one in 8 women (13) delivers without ante-natal care. Of these 37 per cent belong to lower income group. Even when women receive ante natal care, they do not receive several other services needed to monitor their pregnancy.
Gujarat is also one of the few stateswhere full vaccination coverage has declined in the past seven years. BCG and measles vaccines have increased marginally, but the coverage of three doses of DPT and Polio has dropped. In spite of the Pulse Polio Campaign, one third of the country's children still haven't received the recommended three doses of polio vaccine.
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