Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh is working hard to get health services back on track in the state after the neglect it suffered under the Bahujan Samaj Party regime, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said on Monday.
"Had things not been so bad in the past five years, UP would have been much ahead in the area of health services.
"Now, the (SP) minister concerned is working with total honesty to bring it back on track," Yadav said at the inauguration of the `Hausla` health campaign aimed at checking the maternal and child mortality rate in the state.
Lauding the working of state Health Minister Ahmed Hasan, the CM said that unlike in the past, no fingers will be pointed at the department now.
"We hope that through the `Hausla` campaign we will be able to create awareness among the people of the state.
"Statistics say that every year, four lakh children die at the time of birth, besides thousands of mothers who also lose their lives," Yadav said.
The CM said UP was getting help from UNICEF, the Bill and Milinda Gates Foundation and other social welfare organisations to revive health services.
He appealed to state officials and health workers to take a pledge to make the efforts bear fruit at the grassroots level.
PTI
