GUWAHATI, Sept 4 � The latest UNICEF report has highlighted notable progress made in the State health sector, especially in implementing schemes towards facilitating full immunization, breast feeding and institutional delivery.
Assam, as per the report, has moved up several notches to either stand at par or surpass the national average in most of the key health indicators including immunization and institutional delivery.
The report on infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate would be published in October by the UNICEF.
Revealing this, State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the State has been able to achieve good progress and within a year or two it should move out of the �high-focus�, when the first phase of the National Rural Health Missions (NRHM) ends.
�The UNICEF report has clearly shown that Assam has moved up several notches in many key indicators. We may not be among the best yet, but we must remember that Assam was lagging behind in all healthcare indicators just five years ago,� he added.
The UNICEF report, which was carried out between November 2009 and January 2010, was published couple of days ago.
Among the various indicators in which the State has made progress include full immunization of 12-23 months infants in which the State has recorded 59.1 per cent against national average of 60 per cent.
In case of skilled birth attendance, Assam has recorded 65.5 per cent against national average of 76.2 per cent.
Sarma, however conceded that the State is yet to match the overall standard largely due to five districts which are still lagging behind in the health sector.
�We have fared badly in Dhubri, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Dhemaji and North Cachar Hills districts. We have identified the issues and have drawn up special schemes for these districts,� he said, adding, �course correction in these districts would be a key factor.�
It needs mention that as many as 180 such high-focus districts have been identified across the country, which will get more importance.
