Haryana has made significant progress in improving child health outcomes, with the state's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) declining to 24 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2024. The achievement places Haryana on par with the national average and reflects sustained improvements in maternal and child healthcare services across the state.
Sharing this information, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Haryana, Dr. Sumita Misra said the state has been consistently improving key health indicators through focused interventions in maternal and newborn healthcare. She said Haryana's performance demonstrates the effectiveness of sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure and community-based health services.
The latest data show that Haryana's IMR has fallen from 28 to 24 over the past five years, representing a reduction of nearly 14 per cent. During the same period, Punjab's IMR declined from 18 to 16, an improvement of about 11 per cent.
The figures indicate that Haryana has achieved a faster pace of reduction despite the challenges associated with serving a larger and more densely populated population. Dr. Misra said Haryana has now reached the national average in IMR and continues to make steady progress in reducing infant deaths.
She noted that while comparisons are often made with smaller states and Union Territories, Haryana's achievements are significant given its size, population density and healthcare delivery challenges. Health officials noted that Haryana's performance compares favourably with several large states where infant mortality remains significantly higher.
States such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh continue to report IMRs of around 35, while Chhattisgarh's rate is approximately 36 per 1,000 live births. The improvement has been attributed to a series of initiatives undertaken by the Haryana Government to strengthen neonatal and child healthcare services.
These include the expansion of Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs), Newborn Stabilisation Units (NBSUs), Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs), Newborn Baby Care Corners (NBCCs), Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) facilities, Hybrid HDU-ICU units, Comprehensive Lactation Management Centres (CLMCs), Lactation Management Units (LMUs), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram and Home-Based Newborn Care services.
Dr. Misra said the state has witnessed a continuous decline in neonatal and infant mortality due to improved institutional deliveries, better newborn care and strengthened healthcare infrastructure. She added that the government is focusing on further improving antenatal care services, ensuring safe deliveries and upgrading neonatal intensive care facilities across government hospitals.
To further accelerate progress, Haryana plans to establish additional SNCUs, NBSUs, NRCs and Lactation Management Units across the state. Existing SNCUs are also being upgraded into Maternal and Newborn Care Units (MNCUs) to provide integrated care for mothers and newborns under one roof.
While infant mortality continues to pose challenges in some rural areas and parts of eastern Haryana, Dr. Misra said the state's long-term trajectory remains encouraging. Over the last decade, Haryana has reduced its IMR from 41 to 24 per 1,000 live births, reflecting sustained improvements in public health services and healthcare access.
She expressed confidence that continued strengthening of maternal and child health services, coupled with focused implementation at the grassroots level, would help Haryana achieve even better outcomes in the coming years and ensure that more children survive and celebrate their first birthday.