Gujarat records 70,000 infant death in 5 years: CRS report

Gujarat has witnessed a disturbing number of infant deaths in recent years. According to data released by the Civil Registration System (CRS), more than 70,000 newborns died in Gujarat over the past five years, exposing serious gaps in the state’s healthcare system.

On an average nearly 1,000 infant deaths every month are recorded in the state.

Numerous schemes like Mamta Abhiyan, Bal Sakha Yojana, Malnutrition-Free Gujarat Campaign, and Janani Suraksha Abhiyan have been rolled out to tackle issues of infant and maternal mortality. Despite spending crores of rupees, these initiatives appear to have had little impact in reversing the grim trend.

The CRS report for 2021 alone recorded 11,815 infant deaths in the state. Among these, Ahmedabad topped the list with 2,608 deaths, followed by Surat 1,336, Rajkot 1,185, and Vadodara 1,073. In contrast, rural districts like Mahisagar (19 deaths) and Patan (39 deaths) reported comparatively fewer fatalities.

Healthcare experts and child welfare activists are alarmed at the high mortality rate, especially given the state’s claims of providing advanced medical infrastructure and effective healthcare delivery. Factors like inadequate neonatal care, malnutrition, lack of timely intervention, and gaps in implementation of schemes are believed to be contributing to the crisis.

Most shockingly, the report highlights that many infants are not surviving beyond their first year, with some dying shortly after birth, even in the hospital.