The latest report puts Kerala on top with IMR as low as 10 followed by Tamil Nadu at 17 and Maharashtra at 19. (Representational photo) The latest report puts Kerala on top with IMR as low as 10 followed by Tamil Nadu at 17 and Maharashtra at 19. (Representational photo)

Data released from the central government’s sample registration system (SRS) indicates that Maharashtra’s infant mortality rate (IMR) has further dropped to 19 in 2016, from 21 in 2015, and 24 in 2013.

The SRS report comes at a time when neonatal and infant deaths have been reported in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Jharkhand recently.

The latest report puts Kerala on top with IMR as low as 10 followed by Tamil Nadu at 17 and Maharashtra at 19.

According to state health minister Deepak Sawant, efforts are also on to reduce deaths caused by malnutrition in Palghar and Melghat. In a year, the health department has immunised close to 20 million children, state officials said.

The state health department claimed that last year health officials conducted regular screening and immunisation camps for children in tribal hamlets of Palghar, Jawhar, Mokhada, and Melghat. In Mokhada and Jawhar, known for high incidence of malnutrition, infant deaths have reduced from 93 in 2016 to 38 so far this year, state data indicates.

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