The infant mortality rate (IMR) and maternal mortality rate (MMR) in 11 Maoist-hit districts including the Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) region were alarming, Union health secretary Keshav Desiraju said. Balangir tops IMR, among the 11 districts, with 98 per 1,000 live births followed by Kandhamal at 86 against the state average of 59.

Source: The Hindu
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The Chhattisgarh and Union governments have decided to halt the public-private partnership (PPP) project in diagnostic services. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) refused to partially fund the outsourcing of diagnostic services. According to the state government outsourcing health services to private laboratories would enhance efficiency and facilitate delivery of services. 

Source: The Hindu
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Ms Madhuri Krishnaswami from Badwani District in Madhya Pradesh along with four of her colleagues from Jagrit Adiwasi Dalit Sangathan was arrested and put in jail on May 16, 2013 for protesting against the demands for bribes and eviction from hospital of a woman in labour Ms Baniya Bai. Ms Baniya Bai subsequently delivered outside the hospital in full public view. The members of Ms Baniya Bai’s village who had come with her protested against the high handed behaviour of the hospital staff. 
This kind of incidence is against human rights violation and also discrimination against marginalised people.

Source: Change.org
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Around 200 HIV positive couples in Ahmedabad have kicked the dreaded infection in the womb with medical intervention. These families have children who don't carry the burden of their parents' disease. This kind of positive news can reduce the health related apprehension specially regarding AIDS. 

Source: Times of India
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Contrary to the general belief that a majority of pregnant women undergo ultrasonography (USG) only for sex selection, a study shows that 80 per cent of them have given live birth and the remaining had either undergone a pregnancy loss or both live births and abortion. Only 5.4 per cent women who had reported at least one pregnancy loss including still birth, spontaneous abortion and induced abortion, had also undergone an ultrasound test during the reference period.

Source: The Hindu
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Carrying his ailing seven-month pregnant wife on his back, a nomadic tribal youth walked for almost an entire day before he finally got a vehicle to take her to hospital, in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. While he managed to save his wife, the couple lost their child. The life of the child could have been saved if adequate medical facilities were available in nearing areas. But due to delay in reaching health facilities had left the family in deep loss. There are areas in our country where a primary health care facility is a distant dream

Source: Indian Express
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Sunita, a young woman in her fourth month of pregnancy in rural Odisha, suddenly discovered that she was bleeding profusely. It took her a while to understand that the situation was serious and called her husband Ramesh. He rushed home from work. They realized they needed to go to a hospital, but discovered they did not have enough money. After spending precious time trying to borrow money, they managed to hire an auto-rickshaw and reached the hospital. But it was too late. There were no doctors or nurses available and Sunita died.

Source: Huffington Post
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 For 75 years, Finland's expectant mothers have been given a box by the state. It's like a starter kit of clothes, sheets and toys that can even be used as a bed. And some say it helped Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates. The box includes very simple and day to day things and it has become age old tradition. And the report says that the box had helped to reduce infant mortality rates in Finland. Free distribution of this kind of box can also help developing countries to fight against infant mortality.

Source: BBC News
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Across 250 villages in Maharashtra, pregnant women are feeling a little less confused. They have someone telling them how to take care of themselves this week. They receive this counsel through voice messages on the mobile phone. They receive this counsel where they wish to receive it, even in the privacy of their homes. This is relevant in a state where only 43% of women have freedom to travel alone outside. These messages may spur them to change certain behaviours to benefit them and their babies. This is also a state where 1 million newborn babies die every year.

Source: Infochange.org
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