Arunachal Pradesh has made significant strides in improving maternal and child healthcare over the past decade, according to Chief Minister Pema Khandu. In a social media post, Khandu highlighted the state’s health sector achievements, stating that institutional deliveries have increased to nearly 90 percent, while infant and child mortality rates have declined substantially.
The chief minister shared a video showcasing the state’s healthcare transformation, which has led to tangible changes in ensuring safer motherhood, healthier newborns, and a better future for children. Khandu emphasized that the real story of change is not in hospitals, but in the healthy lives of the people, and that improvements in maternal and child health indicators are one of the most meaningful outcomes of the government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery.
According to the figures shared by Khandu, institutional deliveries in Arunachal have increased from 52.5 percent in 2016 to 89.2 percent now. Additionally, infant mortality has declined from 22.9 to 12.9 per 1,000 live births, while neonatal mortality has dropped from 11.8 to 7.7. The under-five mortality rate has also fallen from 32.9 to 18.8, indicating sustained improvements in child survival.
The state has also made significant progress in immunization, with complete vaccination coverage among children rising from 38.2 percent to 93 percent. Furthermore, antenatal care coverage has improved considerably, with the proportion of pregnant women receiving antenatal check-ups increasing from 36.9 percent to 64.8 percent.
Khandu also highlighted the improvement in the state’s sex ratio, which has increased from 958 females per 1,000 males to 1,018 females per 1,000 males. He emphasized that when mothers are safe, children are healthy, and every life gets a better start, society changes.
The chief minister’s remarks come amid the state government’s continued push to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and expand access to quality medical services. The government has approved the CM CARES initiative, an umbrella program to improve affordable healthcare, and has been expanding specialized healthcare services through the Chief Minister Arogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAAY).
