Global under-five mortality is down by more than 50 per cent since 2000 according to new estimates by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME).
According to Deputy Director Chief Statistician, Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, UNICEF, Mr João Pedro Azevedo, a companion report also shows that the global stillbirth rate has declined by more than a third over the same period.
He added: “But this progress is under serious threat. Funding cuts to essential child survival and maternal health programmes are already disrupting services in the places that need them most — from shortages of healthcare workers and life-saving supplies to interruptions in routine vaccinations and the closure of health facilities. These setbacks are particularly acute in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
“These funding cuts are not only jeopardizing programme delivery but are also significantly undermining countries’ abilities to accurately monitor health trends and respond effectively to emerging challenges. Reduced financing for essential data collection efforts, including household surveys, further compounds the issue by limiting critical insights needed for informed decision-making.
“Even before the current funding crisis, progress had slowed. The annual rate of reduction in under-five mortality is 42 per cent lower in the Sustainable Development Goal era (2015-2023) than the Millenium Development Goal era (2000-2015), while stillbirth reduction has slowed by 53 per cent between the two periods. The risks remain highest in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, and among the poorest and most marginalized populations.
“The data highlight the urgent need for sustained investment in maternal, newborn, and child health care — including access to skilled care at birth, antenatal and postnatal services, vaccination, nutrition, and treatment for common childhood illnesses. Stronger health systems and resilient data systems will also be critical to reaching the most vulnerable children and monitoring progress.
“But progress to save children’s lives is possible, even in resource-constrained settings. Several low-income and lower-middle-income countries have made remarkable strides in reducing under-five mortality rates: Cambodia, Malawi, Uzbekistan and Rwanda have all reduced under-five mortality by over 75 per cent since 2000 for example. These countries offer compelling evidence of what can be achieved in child survival when high-impact interventions reach the most vulnerable populations.”
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