Infant Protection is observed on the 7th of November each year, celebrated to perpetuate the dissemination of awareness on measures that need to be taken to save the lives of infants and provide them with the right kind of care, protection, and nutrition.
The main idea behind celebrating this day is to raise awareness regarding the protection and development of infants at the most vulnerable times in their lives.
It is imperative to provide infants with the right kind of nutrition and care in their nascent stages of growth. According to reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019, over 2.4 million infants succumbed in just their first month after birth. Furthermore, according to various sources, more than 7000 children die across, bringing the child mortality rate of children under the age of 5 to under 47 percent.
Infant Care is often overlooked in certain situations
Infant Protection Day is celebrated to raise awareness surrounding the safety of newborns and protect them by providing them with suitable care. Since the growth and development of infants starts at birth with many crucial developments that take place ein just the first two-three months of their growth such as motor skills, vision, hearing and communication. Furthermore, the infant’s relationship with their parents sets the foundation for the infant’s proper development. Awareness on these aspects is disseminated as part of Infant Protection Day celebration, where information on the kind of care that needs to be given to infants and how to respond to their needs are also covered.
In the case of India, there have been multiple reports of incidents of children dying due to lack of proper care and health care offered to them. This particularly affects those children that belong to the lower income and Economically Weaker Sections of the society in India. Healthcare and basic amenities are not made available to many residing in rural areas or those that lack governance, facility and the technology of the same. The societal bias comes in the way of the availability of basic amenities.
This reason can also be linked to the steadily growing infant mortality rate in India.
Infant mortality rates have been fluctuating worldwide and the reason for this can be many, such as birth complications, congenital abnormalities and others. According to reports from 2021, countries with the highest infant mortality rates include Somalia, Afghanistan, Central African Republic among others. On the other hand, countries with the lowest infant mortality rates include Singapore and Iceland.
Talking about significant emerging economic powers such as India, it falls underneath categories as massive fluctuations in the infant mortality rates were reported in India as it has reported 27 infant deaths for every 1000 births in 2020. However, according to reports from WHO, infant mortality rates around the world have decreased from an estimated 65 deaths per 1000 live births in 1999 to 29 deaths per 1000 live births in 2018.
What the infant mortality situation looks like in India
According to reports in 2022, infant mortality rates in India is 27.695 deaths per 1000 live births. This data exhibits a 3.74 percent decline in the rates as compared to the previous year which reported 28. 771 deaths per 1000 live births.
The Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2020 released on 22nd September 2022 has reported that India has seen a decline in infant mortality rate. This is due to the important measures taken by the government in terms of implementing a steady and inclusive health care system that ensures proper care and nourishment of infants.
