DESPITE claims of improving health system in Melghat, a shocking statistics of 157 infant deaths and 71 maternal deaths in the ten months from April to January, have come to light. According to report by Zilla Parishad’s Health Department, number of Moderate Acute Malnourished (MAM) children in Melghat is 1,403 and the number of severely acute malnourished (SAM) children is 101. These children need to be admitted in Village Child Development Centre (Gram Bal Vikas Kendra), Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres. However, the administration has neither any plan nor funds to provide nutritional food to these children, allege NGOs working in the field.

As per the report, 158 children were admitted to Child Treatment Centres (CTC) in Melghat, out of which 131 recovered. The condition of 27 children did not improve. The number of children admitted in nutritional rehabilitation centres is 286. In the 10 months between April 2022 and January 2023, 77 babies aged 0 to 29 days died in Melghat. As many as 42 children aged 1 month-1 year and 38 children aged 1-6 years have reported died. The number of congenital deaths is also high in Melghat and a total of 71 congenital deaths have been reported. Out of these deaths, 62 children died in various health institutions, while 8 died on the way to the hospital. The number of children who died at home is 87.

In view of such infant mortality rate, Melghat needs more number of pediatricians and gynecologists. After the High Court, pediatricians and gynecologists are being appointed in this area. But, the health Department needs to create favorable conditions for them. The NGO state that it has been observed that presence of doctors have indeed helped in reducing child and maternal mortality in the region. However, the posts of medical officers in Primary Health Centres at Sadrabadi, Dhulghat Railway, Bairagarh in Melghat are lying vacant for many months now. Tehsil Medical Officers in Dharni Tehsil have been given charge of several Primary Health Centres. Tehsil Medical Officer is holding four charges simultaneously. BAMS doctor is working as Mansevi Medical Officer in Melghat. The salaries paid to these doctors is low. There are no vehicles for these doctors. The anganwadi workers, day-care workers who shoulder a huge responsibility, too are neglected. It should be mentioned Tanaji Sawant, Health Minister of Maharashtra had visited Melght a few month back. Interacting with mediamen, he had assured that he will bring child and maternal mortality to zero in few months. But that promise seems a very tall order. Adv Bandu Sane, social activist, insists that problems will not be sovled unless there is proper co-ordination between all departments concerned and proper measures implemented.