Center of Excellence at Niloufer Hospital to set new milestones, says Minister Harish Rao

HYDERABAD: Health Minister T Harish Rao inaugurated the prestigious Center of Excellence in Niloufer Hospital on Saturday. The state-of-the-art facility, develped at a cost of Rs 2 crore, is the first in the country which aims to combat infant mortality rates.

Speaking passionately about the center's impact, Minister Harish Rao emphasised, "The establishment of this unique facility will connect 42 Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs), bringing essential medical services closer to families in need. By providing specialised services, Niloufer Hospital has set an exemplary benchmark, extending its exceptional expertise to remote areas and districts."

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Center of Excellence was the provision of remote consultations through video communication, enabling expert advice and treatment to reach all SNCUs. This pioneering approach was aimed at completely eradicating infant mortality rates, setting a national precedent.

Disclosing health statistics of the Telangana State, the Health Minister said, "Under Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's visionary leadership, Telangana has witnessed a significant reduction in maternal and child mortality rates. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has decreased from 92 to 43 (compared to the national average of 97), the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has dropped from 39 to 21 (compared to the national average of 28), the Neonatal Mortality Rate has declined from 25 to 15 (compared to the national average of 20), and the Under-5 Mortality Rate has decreased from 41 to 23 (compared to the national average of 32)."

Harish Rao also challenged opposition parties, particularly the BJP and the Congress, to introspect on their own states' performances compared to Telangana's achievements. He questioned their track records in sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, IT, industry, water management, and accessibility to clean drinking water. The minister countered the opposition's propaganda and urged them to reverse their Goebbels-like tactics.