National Family Health Survey 2005-2006 Disturbing facts
about Haryana
Shining Haryana-Suffering Haryana-Health Front
The process of globalisation has lead to a situation where
richest 20% of the population command 86% of the world GDP while the poorest
20% command merely 1(One) %. In other words this model of development and
market oriented system, has divided the world in to “Shining World” and
“Suffering World”,Similarly we can say that there are tow India,”Shining India”
and “Suffering India”. Haryana cannot be an exception.”Shining Haryana and
suffering Haryana are very obvious now. On one side of the road there is
“Shining Gurgaon” and on the other side of the same road is “Suffering
Gurgaon”.It can be said about every town or village also.
Public Health is an obvious causality of this process. There
is a clear contradiction between the principles of public health and neoliberal
economic theory. Public health is a “public good” i.e. its benefits cannot be
individually enjoyed or computed, but have to be seen in the context of
benefits that are enjoyed by the public. Thus public health outcomes are
shared, and their accumulation lead to better living conditions. It does not
mechanically transfer into visible economic determinants, viz income levels or
rates of growth. Kerala, for example, has one of the lowest per capita incomes
in India but its public health indicators as such are that approach the levels
in many developed countries. Infant mortality rate in kerala is less than a
third of any other large state in the country including Haryana. An important
consequence of globalisation has been commonly described as the”Feminisation of
poverty” as women increasingly had to strive to hold families together in
various ways in the face of increasing pressures , main among them are
increasing poverty, insecurity and ill-health. According to one estimate less
than 10% of the $ 5.6 billion spent each year globally on medical research is
aimed at the health problems affecting 90% of the world’s population.
The results of National Family Health Survey-III, about
Haryana need an in depth analysis but seeing it on random basis it can be said
that a state which is “Shining on one side is also suffering on the other side.
Economically very much advanced but socially lagging behind ,Haryana is well
known on the map of the world regarding declining sex ratio .The under weight
children under age 3 percentage is 42 in NFHS-III where as it was 35 and 35 in
first and second NFHS surveys. The wasted group has 6,5,and 17% respectively in
I,II and III NFHS .The percentage of Women whose body mass Index is below
normal is 27% in NFHS-III where as it was 25.9% in NFHSII. Also the percentage
of women who are overweight or obese has increased from 16.6 to 21.0. the
percentage of anaemic ever married women age 15-49 has increased from
47.0(NFHSII) to 56.5(NFHSIII).
Similarly the percentage of pregnant women age 15-49 who are
anaemic has increased from 55.5(NFHSII) to 69.7(NFHSIII). The percentage of women
who want 2 sons has also increased from 95.2% (NFHSII) to
97.4%(NFHSIII).Paradox is that per capita expenditure on health has increased
from Rest. 175.02 in 1998-99 to 243.27 in 2006-2007, though it may still be
less.
A very challenging situation is emerging on health front in
Haryana. The medical fraternity and paramedics have to rise upto the occasion
and decide whether they are for “Shining India” only or are for “Suffering
India” first and then “Shining India”. We must see the writings on the wall. The
primary and secondary level health care is virtually collapsing in Haryana. In
Rohtak district there are 5 CHC’s – Meham, Kalanaur,Chiri, Sampla and Kiloi. As
per the norms there should be a surgeon, Physician, Pediatrician and
gynaecologist in each CHC. Unfortunately there is not a single specialist in
any of the above CHC’s.We must see the writing on the wall.
