India Witnesses The Growth In Life Expectancy Rate

Bangalore: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines life expectancy as "the average number of years a person is expected to live, on the basis of the current mortality rates and prevalence distribution of health states in a population." According to the current positive data brought out by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there has been a growth in life expectancy of Indians by 5 years. Between 2001 and 2005, the life expectancy for female was 93.9 years and 62.3 for males, but the recent statistics indicated growth and in 2011-2015, the life expectancy for female is 69.6 years and 67.3 years for male, reports Janani Sampath of TNN.

 This news has well complimented the fact that India is growing. As compared to previous decades, India has improved on many things to welcome life. Awareness about the diseases, better medical facilities, better immunization and nutrition coupled with advanced treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, according to experts. Also the country has been witnessing less number of deaths due to negligence, especially during pregnancies and the infant mortality rates have come down as compared _to previous decades. The mortality ratio has reduced from 58 per 1,000 live births in the 2005 to 42 per 1,000 live births in 2012. "Maternal mortality ratio has declined from 301 per 100,000 live births in 2001-03 to 212 in 2007-09," cited the health ministry.

Besides, the viral disease remains a threat globally; life-threatening diseases like diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough have been eradicated from the country completely. Also, the last new case of polio in India was reported three years ago and the country can now be declared polio-free, reports PTI. India's victory in eliminating polio from its soil is an "important milestone" in the global efforts to eliminate the disease and the country can play a vital role by helping other nations with their eradication initiatives, a leading American newspaper, reports PTI.

Well, the increased life expectancy rate is not so a happy news totally; as India is still battling with communicable and as well as non-communicable diseases. Some experts cautioned on increased burden of diseases coming in with the increased life expectancy. Dr B Krishnswamy, a practicing geriatrician said, “Yes, we will live longer, but the big question is how healthy our lives would be."

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