Chandigarh, June 7: Haryana has registered notable progress in maternal and child healthcare, with the state's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) declining from 41 to 24 deaths per 1,000 live births over the past decade, reflecting a reduction of over 40%, according to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2024.

 A spokesperson of the Health Department said the state has consistently improved child health outcomes through focused policy interventions and expansion of specialized healthcare facilities. The spokesperson said Haryana's IMR has declined from 28 to 24 over the past five years, reflecting a reduction of nearly 14 percent.

 The latest figures place Haryana at par with the national average and underscore the positive impact of sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure, newborn care services and maternal health interventions across the state.

 The spokesperson added that the state's progress demonstrates the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to strengthen maternal and newborn healthcare services. While challenges remain, particularly in certain rural areas, the overall trend points towards continuous improvement in child survival indicators.

 According to the SRS 2024 report, Haryana's IMR now stands at 24 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, matching the national average. The spokesperson said that despite having a larger and denser population than neighbouring states such as Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, Haryana has maintained steady progress in reducing infant mortality.

 The Health Department stated that the decline in IMR over the last decade represents thousands of young lives saved through better healthcare access, improved institutional deliveries and strengthened newborn care systems.

 The state's Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) has also shown significant improvement. The U5MR currently stands at 31, compared to 45 in 2013, indicating sustained gains in child health outcomes.

 Over the years, Haryana has significantly strengthened newborn and child healthcare services through the establishment and expansion of Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs), Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSUs), Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs), Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) facilities, Lactation Management Units (LMUs), Comprehensive Lactation Management Centres (CLMCs), Hybrid HDU-ICU units, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram and Home-Based Newborn Care programmes.

 To accelerate further improvements, the state government is upgrading existing SNCUs into Maternal and Newborn Care Units (MNCUs) and establishing additional newborn care facilities. Strengthening antenatal care, institutional deliveries, neonatal intensive care services and postnatal support remains a key priority.

 The spokesperson said the Health Department is committed to ensuring quality healthcare services for every mother and newborn. Haryana will continue expanding healthcare infrastructure and strengthening community outreach programmes to further reduce infant mortality and improve child survival rates across the state.

 No.IPRDH/2026