Issues of Health and Women in Assam

Issues of health have been the area of critical concern in 21st century India. Despite significant legislations like National Drug Policy of 1978, National Health Policy of 1983, National Health Policy of 2002 and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in the recent past, the health sector has been hit by several shortcomings and problems. Whether it is infrastructural or manpower shortage, sometimes lack of consciousness of the people, health issues has been predominant in the list of legislators in India. Though everyone has been adversely affected by poor health conditions, yet the rate among women and children is high in comparison to men. Since women and children are more vulnerable in this regard, meaningful steps are required to eliminate the health hazards. Any rise in the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is alarming for any state in India. Moreover malnutrition has added more worry to the policy makers and all concerned. The U.N. agencies in one of their surveys found that maternal deaths in India, along with countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, and Tanzania together accounted for 65 per cent of all global maternal deaths in 2008[i]. Proper sanitation, access to safe drinking water, and basic healthcare facilities are the areas which should be properly managed in order to check those health related problems. Apart from other Indian states, Assam is amongst one to be included in the list of 18 selected states undertaken by NRHM for 2005 to 2012. The picture of Assam is gloomy even though it is better than all other NE states as declared by NRHM recently. Amongst women the tribal are more adversely affected by the health factors. It is crucial to add the basic healthcare facilities available to tackle those problems. It would be illogical to blame only the governmental mechanism since tribal groups are more often influenced by their traditional practices and ethos and also by their habitat. Consciousness of the people is key at this juncture. Poverty is one of the important aspects which is also responsible for the decaying condition of health of those groups in particular.



Endnotes/References

[i] The Hindu, 24th September, 2010 Mumbai


                                                                                                        By Sasanka Dhaval Saikia