Pune: Maharashtra has managed to bring down child mortality numbers in the last half decade, but still has an abysmal record of an average of 35 deaths a day of children under the age of five due to health issues.In 2025-26, the state health department reported 12,792 such child deaths in Maharashtra.State joint director of health services Dr Sandeep Sangale, “As per our analysis, some of the major causes are prematurity and low birth weight, birth asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, sepsis, congenital malformation, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), etc. We are targeting these issues.”Pointing out some reasons for the high fatality numbers, Dr Anil Khamkar, academic head and senior consultant at the Noble Hospitals and Research Centre’s NICU, told TOI, “With more late marriages, increasing IVF pregnancies and multiple pregnancies, premature deliveries remain a concern. Women must get access to holistic care, especially during pregnancy, including proper guidance on planning and nutrition, with regular tests.”Prakashrao Abitkar, state health minister, said, “We have been able to bring down the number of child mortality in the state over the years. However, we must strive to bring it down to zero. No child must lose their life due to a preventable diseases or a treatable condition. We are focusing on various screening programmes to catch the disease at the earliest possible. We are also engaging community leaders from every village in Maharashtra to engage them so as to improve all health indicators, including child mortality.”Senior gynaecologist and public health researcher Dr Vaijayanti Patwardhan agreed, “Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the entire system, including the woman’s family, to ensure proper care, not just during pregnancy but right from the beginning. Pre-pregnancy planning is a must so that any medical conditions can be treated or managed before conception. Right from the first month of pregnancy, the woman must receive care thus avoiding any complication like prematurity at birth.”At the same time, govt data shows that the number of such child deaths in the state has gone down overall in the past five years. In 2021-22, this number stood at 16,748 deaths, amounting to a daily average of 45 deaths. Officials said multiple state govt initiatives have worked towards bringing this down over the years.Patwardhan further said, “Child mortality can be divided into three sections — neonatal, infant and child mortality. The numbers show that there has been a significant drop in numbers of child mortality. Early interventions at public healthcare facilities and rural facilities have worked. Antenatal care plays a significant role in the child’s survival as antenatal infections and prematurity can be avoided. Multiple govt programmes and trainings have borne fruit as doctors and auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) have been able to diagnose and manage antenatal and postnatal problems at the earliest.”Similarly, Sangale added, “The numbers in the state have improved but we are working to bring these down more. Multiple committees look into each child’s death and review strategies. We also work with the women and child development department and focus on schemes to improve women’s health, as the child’s health is directly dependent on that. Our immunization team is active on ground to ensure that no child is left without vaccinations.”Senior doctors have also urged govt to train medical staff to adhere to protocols pertaining to neonatal resuscitation. Khamkar added, “Adherence to protocols by trained medical staff and effective neonatal resuscitation during the ‘golden minute’ has brought down instances of birth asphyxia. Effective resuscitation is critical for babies failing to breathe spontaneously and helps to significantly increase survival rates.”Weighing in about preventive measures, Dr Umesh Vaidya, consultant and head of neonatology at KEM Hospital Pune said, “Reducing under-five mortality requires a strong focus on simple yet life-saving interventions. Exclusive breastfeeding, timely introduction of age-appropriate complementary foods, and complete immunisation form the foundation of child survival. Equally important is the prevention and early management of diarrhoea and other communicable diseases, along with addressing iron deficiency to ensure healthy growth. Accessible and affordable healthcare plays a critical role in tying all these elements together. Given that a significant healthcare burden is managed by the private sector, it is essential for private healthcare professionals to actively support and align with national health programmes to achieve meaningful and sustainable impact.”Child deaths in Maharashtra in the last half decade:Year — Total child deaths (0-5 years)2025-26 — 12,7922024-25 — 13,7282023-24 — 13,8102022-23 — 17,1502021-22 — 16,748*Source: Maharashtra health departmentSome govt initiatives to tackle child mortality:– Setting up SNCUs (Special Newborn Care Units)– Providing free nutritious food through anganwadis– Specialized prenatal/postnatal care– Launch of LaQshya (labour room quality improvement initiative) to reduce maternal and newborn mortality– Mission Indradhanush for immunization– Rashtriya Bal Swashtya Karyakram (RBSK) for early detection of diseases
