Biratnagar, September 30:

The infant mortality rate has decreased significantly in Morang district after the ‘Zentamycin vaccination against infections in infants’ campaign was initiated last April-May in 21 VDCs.

According to the District Public Health Office, only two infants out of the 501 babies born in the district died within the period of five months after the launch of the programme. Last year, 17 infants had died within the same period. Chief of the Public health Office, Nava Raj Subba, in a programme organised here today said, “The chances of an infant’s survival after administering Zentamycin vaccine have increased by over 90 per cent.”

He said one infant of Jhurkiya, born with ailments, and another who had contracted tetanus at Babaiyabirta VDC died after the initiation of the drive. The vaccination drive, under a programme of the Health Ministry, will be launched in other districts also. The vaccine is administered to infants immediately after birth. Thirty-one bicycles were distributed to 31 Mother Child Workers and Rural Health Workers to make the drive successful in the district.