NMR better than UT, National Average
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 8: The Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) at Valley’s premier Tertiary Health Care Institute, Lalla Ded (LD) hospital has come down from over 18 per cent in 2017-18 to 6.69 in 2020-21-the reduction which is said to be better than the UT and National average
As per the official figures provided to Excelsior, the current NMR of LD hospital is better than the UT and National average. “The Neonatal Mortality Rate of Jammu and Kashmir is 9.8 per cent,” the figures reveal.
The data also suggests that the OPD, as well as the IPD of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the hospital, has grown considerably, being the only tertiary care hospital for all complicated, high risk, poorly managed Antenatal cases.
The figures state that the hospital is catering to patients from all across the valley including Kargil, Banihal, Rajouri and Doda, while as around 25 to 30 per cent population of the valley is born at the hospital.
The data also reveal that around 2100-2400 Neonates are delivered per month and approximately 250 to 300 sick newborns are admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit per month.
“Most of the New Born admitted are premature, low birth weight requiring life care support immediately at the time of birth which includes invasive ventilator support to CPAP support. Out of 10-20 new admissions per 24 hours, about 6-7 admissions are premature babies from 26th week of gestational age (7 months) up to 34 weeks (8 months) with maximum, newborn having gestational age 28-30 weeks with the weight of 1.2 to 1.3 kgs,” the figures state.
As per the data, such babies in addition to ventilator support need certain medicines (Surfactant) for their lung maturity. “On record, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at LD hospital has successfully discharged 90% such premature, low birth babies whose admission stay in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ranged from 25 to 35 days.”
The NHR has improved despite the hospital having a huge patient load and dealing with all complicated high-risk deliveries from all over the valley.
Meanwhile, officials said that the measures that have been put in place, which helped in improvising the neonate care at NICU at LD Hospital.
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