Agra, May 5: The Uttar Pradesh government is making significant strides in reducing the infant mortality rate (IMR) by upgrading healthcare facilities. This initiative is not only benefiting local newborns but also saving lives of infants from neighboring states. The newly developed and upgraded Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) and Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSUs), along with the use of CPAP machines, have proven effective in lowering IMR in Uttar Pradesh. Moreover, these healthcare units are assisting newborns from states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Take the example of Sarojini Naidu (SN) Medical College in Agra. Each year, nearly 200 infants from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan receive critical care here. According to Prof. Neeraj Yadav, the nodal officer for the SNCU, children from over a dozen districts in these states are treated at this medical facility.
Suman, a 27-year-old mother from Dholpur district in Rajasthan, shared her experience. “Many children from our district have received new life at SN Medical College. I knew this, so when my baby fell ill on the sixth day after birth, we rushed to Agra. Treatment began on April 18. The doctors informed us that the baby had an infection and was struggling to breathe. The baby was placed on CPAP support and gradually recovered,” she said. “Visiting SN Medical College was a blessing for us.”
Suman’s story is just one among many. Prof. Yadav noted that infants from Bharatpur and Dholpur in Rajasthan, as well as Bhind and Morena in Madhya Pradesh, frequently come to the medical college for treatment. The pediatric department admits around 1,800 patients annually, with about 200, or one percent, coming from other states. He added that 25 percent of these are premature babies, and many weighing between 800 to 1,000 grams have also gone home healthy. The SN Medical College is providing essential healthcare to patients from nearly a dozen districts surrounding Agra.
The nodal officer highlighted that the CPAP machines installed in the SNCU are advanced and cost-effective, with minimal side effects. These machines deliver a precise mix of oxygen and air through the nose to the lungs, making it easier for infants to breathe. Compared to ventilators, CPAP offers numerous advantages, including quicker initiation of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). Dr. Prashant Gupta, the principal of the medical college, stated that patients come not only from Agra but also from nearby districts and a dozen districts in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. “Our team is saving lives by treating newborns,” he said.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 28 out of every 1,000 newborns in Uttar Pradesh die from various causes. Currently, 48 SNCUs are actively working to reduce this number. The CPAP machines in these units are proving to be a boon for newborns. Dr. Milind Vardhan, General Manager of the National Health Mission, views CPAP as a game-changing solution for reducing infant mortality, especially in SNCUs, where breathing difficulties are a leading cause of death among newborns. Dr. Pinky Jewel, Director of the National Health Mission, mentioned that in the first phase, 350 doctors and staff have been trained for the 48 SNCUs, with plans for training and other activities in the remaining 72 units in the second phase.
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