New Delhi:
23-year-old Rizwana Pathan went into labour late Monday night in a hospital in Vadodara. Anxious yet anticipating the birth of their child, Rizwana and her husband Siraj Pathan were looking forward to celebrating. They are now mourning the death of their new-born. Rizwana delivered in the waiting area, unable to reach the labour room. Their new born baby girl died before the doctor reached her.
Rizwana and Siraj's trauma is a reflection of a frightful reality. Of every 100 new-borns that die in the world, 29 are in India, leaving behind even sub-Saharan countries like Congo and Somalia. In real, heart-rending numbers, three lakh babies die on the day they are born, every year.
This horrifying statistic, released in report by global NGO, 'Save the Children'.
Save the Children compared first-day deaths in 186 countries for its "State of World's Mother Report". Luxembourg has the least new-born deaths, India the most, the reports says.
The statistics only get worse. More than half the child deaths in India happen in the first month.
India also has the biggest disparity between the rich and poor in child deaths, with the poorest 20 per cent facing twice the risk than the top 20 per cent.
While infant deaths in India have come down by almost half compared to 1990, the rate has been slower than that in, say, Nepal.
Thomas Chandy, CEO of 'Save the Children' in India told NDTV, "If you really look at the infant mortality and especially the neo natal mortality, the morality of the new borns, India has a high burden. We have declined only say 31 percent since 1990. Compared to Bangladesh which has had a decline of 49 percent and even Nepal which has had a decline of 44 percent, Sri Lanka is doing well."
The country's report card on mother and child health too is abysmal; India is behind Pakistan and Bangladesh on this list.
Experts say it's not identifying the problem but implementing the solution that remains a key area of concern. In addition, India spends just a little over 1 per cent of its GDP on health in sharp contrast to what developed countries do at 8 per cent.