Koraput: Health minister Pratap Jena on Sunday inaugurated the 50-bed maternity and child health care ward at Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital here.

Authorities hope that the building, constructed for Rs 9.20 crore with funds from the National Health Mission, would arrest the infant mortality rate and the maternal mortality rate in the district by promoting institutional deliveries. "This ward is going to help pregnant women and newborn children in this tribal-dominated district. We are confident that the ward will go a long way in addressing the complicated health issues of newborn children and pregnant mothers," said Jena after inaugurating the ward.

The three-storey ward is spread over 7,000sqft and equipped with sophisticated equipment to take care of women and newborn children. Doctors at the ward will take care of post-delivery and critical cases.

The district's infant mortality rate is over 40 per 1,000 live births, while the maternal mortality rate is 175 per one lakh live births, mainly caused by non-institutional deliveries. The infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate in the state are 44 and 222, respectively. Later, Jena also laid the foundation stone for a drug warehouse in Koraput.

"All the medical needs, including posting of adequate number of doctors and other technical staff members, in the district will be fulfilled shortly. The government aims to make Koraput a hub of health care facilities," Jena said.

While addressing students of the medical college, the minister said all their demands would be fulfilled and urged them not to agitate.

"The medical college has just started functioning and there are few tethering problems. Both the government and the district administration are aware about the students' demands and we are making efforts to fulfil those," he said. Last week, first-year MBBS students had complained of non-availability of original human skeletons at the college and claimed that practical lessons had taken a hit as a result. They had also complained of inadequate supply of parts of bones. "We have floated a tender to procure original human skeletons and hope to get one," said medical college dean Krushna Chandra Biswal.