All districts will have special units to reduce infant mortality rate: Health Minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque today (August 13, 2022) said the government will set up Special Care Neonatal Unit (SCANU) in every district hospital in phases to reduce the infant mortality rate in the country.

"Around 30 to 32 newborns die in every 1,000 live births in the country. To reduce this mortality rate, the special unit (SCANU) will be launched in every district hospital gradually," he said while inaugurating the SCANU unit at the 250-bed General Hospital in Manikganj today (August 13, 2022), reports our local correspondent.

Infant mortality rate needs to be brought down to 10 percent to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, said the minister, adding that for this, these specialised service centres have been set up in nearly 50 hospitals across the country.