 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has said that the childhood malnutrition continues to be a serious public health concern and a development challenge in India.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the State-of-the-art Rainbow Children’s Hospital in New Delhi on Wednesday, Mr Naidu said, it is estimated that more than ten lakh children below five years of age die annually.
He said, the major causes of child mortality in India include prematurity and low birth weight, pneumonia and diarrheal diseases.
Vice President said, the new National Health Protection Scheme can potentially make a huge difference in the lives of the poor impacting both their physical as well as economic well being.
Mr Naidu said, the health outcomes cannot be achieved by the government institutions alone and the private sector health facilities have to supplement governmental efforts.
He also said, there is a need for setting up more specialized children’s hospitals and the private sector must ensure that the treatment provided by them is not only accessible but also affordable.
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