Odisha has reported second highest point decline in the country in maternal mortality ratio (MMR) with a 49-point decline from 168 in 2015-17 to 119 in 2018-20. But the state is still performing poorly compared to the national Average of 97.
MMR is the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per one lakh live births.
According to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin on MMR, 2018-20, Rajasthan witnessed 73-point decline followed by Odisha and Uttar Pradeshs 49, Bihar 47, Assam 34, 33, Gujarat 30, Andhra Pradesh 29, Karnataka 28 and India 25 from 2015-17 to 2018-20.
States MMR was 358 in 2001-03 compared to Indias 301. It has witnessed a progressive reduction in MMR from 2001-03 to 2018-20 and coming closure to national level, said an official of the Health and family welfare department.
Odisha is yet to accomplish the National Health Policy (NHP) target for MMR of less than 100/lakh live births. It is also far away from achieving the Sustainable Development goal (SDG) target of MMR of less than 70/ lakh live births by 2030.
So far eight states have achieved the SDG goal. They are Kerala followed by Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Karnataka.