India records highest deaths among under-five children

NEW DELHI: India reports the highest number of deaths among children below the age of five years, annually due to pneumonia and diarrhoea, according to an international report, the government told Lok Sabha today.

India has 3.18 lakh under-five children deaths annually due to the two diseases and the countries with high burden of such deaths are Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, Sudan and Bangladesh among others, Health Minister JP Nadda said.

The Union government has however not conducted any study in this regard, he said in a written reply to a question.

The Minister said government is carrying out a number of child health interventions for prevention and control of the two diseases.

Among the key measures taken are promotion of early and exclusive breast-feeding, promotion of appropriate infant and young child feeding practices, promoting use of zinc and ORS with IRS packets and zinc tablets being made available free of cost at health facilities, he said.