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United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation released report

Posted 28 Mar 2025

2 min read

The report is titled “Levels & Trends in Child Mortality” and it lauded India’s efforts and progress in reducing Child Mortality has been lauded as “Exemplar” along with other four countries.

  • Since 2000, India has achieved an under-five mortality reduction of 70 per cent and a neonatal mortality reduction of 61 per cent.

Reasons for India’s performance given in the report

  • Ayushman Bharat: Health insurance scheme which provides annual coverage of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year.
  • Comprehensive delivery care: Every pregnant woman is entitled to free delivery (including caesarean section), and infant care provides free transport, medications, diagnostics and dietary support in public health institutions.
  • Improving Access to Maternal Services: Strengthened infrastructure via the establishment of maternity waiting homes, maternal and child health wings, and a dedicated programme for birth defect screening.
  • Training skilled birth attendants: Prioritized the training and deployment of skilled birth attendants, such as midwives and community health workers.

Recommendations to further reduce child mortality globally

  • Prioritising Investments: Investments must be targeted to the most vulnerable populations.
  • Data Optimization: Targeting actions and interventions should be based on subnational data.
  • Others: Age specific Interventions, Availability of Data, etc

Initiatives taken by India

  • Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan: To provide fixed-day assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care universally to all pregnant women.
  • Janani Suraksha Yojana: It integrates cash assistance with delivery and post-delivery care. 
  • Mothers’ Absolute Affection (MAA): Improving breastfeeding practices.
  • Universal Immunization Programme (UIP): Provide vaccination to children against life threatening diseases.
  • Tags :
  • Child Mortality
  • Ayushman Bharat
  • Levels & Trends in Child Mortality
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