Bhubaneswar, Aug. 7: The state is stepping up efforts to reduce infant mortality by setting up special intensive care units (ICUs) for newborn babies in the five premier government hospitals.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik here today.

Health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said the special ICUs would be set up at the three government-run medical colleges at Cuttack, Berhampur and Burla, Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela General Hospital to provide advanced health care to newborn babies.

Official sources said this was planned to reduce infant mortality rate in the state. Presently, infant mortality stands at 51 per 1,000 and those of newborn babies is 37 per 1,000 live births. A target was set to bring down the rates to 30 and 23 respectively by 2010.

Odisha was earlier infamous for high infant mortality rate (IMR). In 1981, the infant mortality rate was the highest (125 per 1,000 live births) in India against the national average (77) and it slightly came down to 98 against the national average of 71.

In 2001, when the IMR was 97, the state government decided to launch IMR Mission to focus more on interventions to reduce infant mortality.

At present, maternal mortality stands at 222 per 100,000, which has been targeted to be brought down to 117 by 2020. A sum of Rs 50 crore has been provided in the current year's budget to reduce both the infant and maternal mortality.

It was decided on Friday to open a special cell in the health and family welfare department to monitor various ongoing programmes to reduce the infant and maternal mortality. Steps will also be initiated to improve health care facility at the first referral units and infrastructure development in labour rooms starting from community health centres up to the level of medical colleges.

Though the state has achieved success in bringing down both infant and maternal mortality rates to a great extent, the chief minister on Friday emphasized on more focused attention from officials to ensure total success.

The government also decided to launch a special programme in 68 backward blocks in 15 tribal-dominated districts.

Under this programme, special care of pregnant women will be taken to ensure safe delivery besides infrastructure development in the health centres of these 68 blocks and filling up of vacancies in doctor and para-medical posts.