Each year, thousands of families in Karnataka face a tragedy that should have never occurred.  The death of a child before their first birthday! 

As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) 2022 report, Karnataka's Infant Mortality Rate  (IMR) is 20 per 1,000 live births. That is, for every one lakh babies born in the state, close to  2,000 will not survive their first birthday. 

To place this in context, Kerala has an IMR of only 4, Tamil Nadu 13, and Maharashtra 17 and the  national average is 26. In comparison while Karnataka is better than many states, it still trails its  southern counterparts. These variations aren't statistics, they're preventable tragedies and  systemic failures. 

In most cases the reasons are Low birth weight and prematurity (accounting for 30–35% of  infant deaths), Infections such as pneumonia, sepsis, and diarrhoea (20–25%), Birth asphyxia  and intrapartum trauma (15–20%), Congenital malformations (approximately 10%) 

The majority of these deaths can be prevented with early prenatal and postnatal care. Antenatal  check-ups at regular intervals, treatment of maternal anemia (which is present in nearly 45% of  pregnant women in Karnataka), proper nutrition, and institutional delivery can go a long way in  

curbing mortality. However, rural districts still report shortages in access to specialists and  advanced newborn units. 

Vaccination is an effective force. The government's National Immunisation Schedule (NIS)  includes the basics such as BCG, polio, measles, and diphtheria. Yet illnesses such as rotavirus  diarrhoea, pneumococcal pneumonia, flu, hepatitis A, and chickenpox which cut short young  lives are preventable through other vaccines advocated by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics  (IAP). Unfortunately, most parents forego these on account of them being "optional." Optional  cannot imply unnecessary. Broader consumption of these vaccines can cut infant mortality  further. 

The path ahead is unambiguously clear. Karnataka requires two approaches: ramp up public  health infrastructure in the hinterland and make parents aware. Exclusively breastfeeding the  infant, early identification of jaundice or infection, safe weaning, and availability of NICU  facilities can save lives.

Every infant saved is a family spared grief, and a citizen added to the state’s future. Karnataka  has the medical expertise and economic capacity to reduce IMR to single digits like in Kerala.  What is required now is urgency, awareness, and collective will. 

Infant mortality is not just a number — it is a mirror reflecting how we, as a society, value our  most vulnerable lives. Karnataka's fight against infant mortality demands both systemic reform  and societal awareness. Most infant deaths are preventable with timely prenatal care, access to  neonatal services, maternal nutrition, and essential as well as optional vaccinations. Rural  disparities, lack of infrastructure, and low awareness among parents continue to hinder  outcomes. This is not merely a public health issue but a moral one. Every child saved is a step  toward a stronger, healthier Karnataka. Reducing the Infant Mortality Rate to single digits is not  a distant goal but an achievable one, provided there is urgency, investment, and community  participation. The future of Karnataka lies in its youngest citizens. Let us ensure they survive and  thrive.