This year’s World Health Day theme rightly brings the spotlight back to women’s health, maternal mortality, and newborn survival, says Dr Vinod K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog. He notes that his own professional journey, both in academia and public health, has centred on newborn care, which he sees as inextricably linked to maternal health. He welcomes the renewed attention on the well-being of mothers and children.
SDG Targets Reachable
He points out that Sustainable Development Goal 3 outlines three critical indicators related to maternal and child health: reducing maternal mortality to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births; bringing under-five mortality below 25 per 1,000 live births; and lowering neonatal mortality to under 12 per 1,000. Dr Paul affirms that India is firmly on track to meet these targets.
Addressing Stunting
On the issue of stunting, he acknowledges that while it remains a challenge, the country has seen a consistent decline. He expresses confidence that this downward trend will gain momentum, attributing this to India’s progress in sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission, which has lowered the incidence of infections—a major contributor to stunting.
Vaccines and Child Health
He adds that the decline in stunting is further supported by improved vaccination coverage, particularly for diarrhoea and pneumonia. The availability of rotavirus, pneumococcal and influenza vaccines, along with essential treatments like ORS and zinc, have strengthened the country’s response to childhood illness. Dr Paul believes that effective management and prevention of these conditions will significantly accelerate the reduction of stunting in the coming years.
Rising Burden of NCDs
Turning to non-communicable diseases, he highlights the growing concern around cardiovascular conditions, which now account for a substantial proportion of deaths. These include hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, cancer, and chronic kidney and liver diseases.
Prevention is Key
According to Dr Paul, the strategy to combat NCDs rests on both prevention and effective management. Prevention, he says, involves addressing lifestyle-related risk factors such as obesity, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption. Promoting healthy habits—maintaining proper weight, engaging in regular exercise, and avoiding harmful substances—is essential in reducing the overall burden of these diseases.
