Shillong, Aug 28: Meghalaya’s institutional delivery rate has risen to 81 per cent as per the Health Management Information System (HMIS), up from 65.6 per cent in National Family Health Survey -6 and 58.1 per cent in NFHS-5, Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla told the Assembly on Friday.
The government aims to take it to 95 per cent in three years, above the national average of 90 per cent, he said.
Shylla said maternal deaths fell 56 per cent and infant deaths 40 per cent since 2020-21, aided by Mother App tracking, Chief Minister Safe Motherhood Scheme with over 1 lakh free trips last year, 117 transit homes, and sonogram machines up from 23 to 85.
The minister also provided a district-wise assessment based on NFHS-6.
West Garo Hills is best performer, West Khasi Hills weakest, he said, citing terrain, transport, traditional preferences for home births.
South West Khasi Hills was identified as requiring attention because of poor institutional delivery rates and high stunting despite strong antenatal care contact. East Khasi Hills also showed weaker performance across several health service indicators.
The minister informed that five 5 FRUs are functional, three under construction; MCH hospitals in South West Garo Hills, Nongstoiñ, Ri-Bhoi being made functional.
Shylla said the Janani Suraksha Yojana gives Rs 1,400 per rural delivery, ASHA workers get Rs 600 rural and Rs 400 urban areas.
He acknowledged that Meghalaya continues to face challenges in ensuring that women deliver in health institutions, because of difficult terrain, long distances, limited transport and shortages of specialist doctors.
He said most sanctioned Medical Officer posts had been filled, but the State still faced a shortage of specialists. Recruitment drives had been conducted, but there had been limited participation, he added.
According to Shylla, even when doctors were posted to three PHCs without Medical Officers, they did not report for duty. He assured the House that efforts were being made to fill the vacancies immediately.
