Infant mortality rate in the country has dropped substantially and the role of nurses in critical care has been vital in this, according to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital Dean Dr B Ashokan.

He was the chief guest at the seventh national conference on practices for achieving clinical excellence in critical care nursing organised by the Ganga Institute of Health Science.

Ashokan praised the nursing community for its life-saving contribution and added that infant mortality rate is less than 19 in the State due to the extensive neonatal care services of nurses. Maternal mortality was also down in the State and life expectancy had gone up to 69 years.

“Through the preventive burn and accidental care and the Tamil Nadu accident emergency critical care, nurses were playing a vital role in the golden hours of life,” he added.

Ganga Hospital orthopedic and spine surgery department chairman Dr S Rajasekaran said critical care nursing was in high demand in the country.

Ganga Institute of Health Sciences Managing Trustee Rama Rajasekaran and Principal Esther John were also present on the occasion.

Ashokan inaugurated the MSc clinical nutrition course, the first PG one of the institute.