184 districts identified for focussed healthcare: PM

184 poorest performing districts of the country have been identified for <g data-gr-id="56">focussed</g> attention in terms of healthcare, involving infusion of resources and conduct of specific programmes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Thursday. Listing out achievements and strides made by India especially in <g data-gr-id="31">materal</g> and child health, he exuded confidence that India would reach close to achieving the millennium development goal of reducing <g data-gr-id="40">under-five</g> mortality rate.

Addressing an international conference on healthcare here, he said India had eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus much before the global target date of December 2015 and that the country stands ready to help others in this area with technology and programme intervention.

India needs to institutionalise a system where marginalised communities receive universal healthcare and financial protection as "unfortunate health <g data-gr-id="35">espisodes</g>" are making people financially weak, he said. "One of our major concerns is equity. As a step towards ensuring equitable health services across regions that suffer from intra-state disparities, and to bring about sharper improvements in health outcomes, a total of 184 poorest performing districts all over the country have been identified.

"Special efforts are being made to put in more resources and <g data-gr-id="37">focussed</g> programmes in these areas," he said here while addressing the 'Global Call to Action' Summit 2015 being attended by representatives of 24 nations. Modi also underlined his government's commitment to ensuring that no child in India dies of a vaccine-preventable disease and said the largest immunisation drive another mission known as "Mission Indradhanush" has been launched.

It seeks to accelerate the annual rate of immunisation from existing 1 per cent to more than 5 <g data-gr-id="64">per </g>

<g data-gr-id="64">cent</g> per year so as to achieve more than 90 <g data-gr-id="33">per cent</g> coverage by 2020. 

The Prime Minister said programmes like the National Health Mission have resulted in improved 

health outcomes and Janani Suraksha Yojana has ensured that 75 per cent of the deliveries <g data-gr-id="45">take</g> place in health care centres. "The message is of our commitment, that we will ensure that every woman, every child who can be saved will be saved. We also need to make a clarion call to the world to join hands in taking such steps that would ensure this.

Extending India's support to all the 24 participating countries in the summit including the SAARC nations, he said India's "rich" experience in universal immunisation including 'mission <g data-gr-id="38">indradhanush</g>' could be shared with them.

"India stands committed to not only allocate resources towards this in our <g data-gr-id="36">country,</g> but also to help the world and all those countries which needed any support. It is my personal vision and my government's firm commitment," he said.