India Celebrates Significant Decline in Child Mortality Rate, Praised by UN Report

New Delhi, March 19: A recent United Nations report highlights a remarkable decline in child mortality rates in India. The UN has commended the country’s efforts in this regard. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his happiness on the social media platform X, noting that the report praises India for its rapid reduction in child deaths.

According to the latest report from the United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME), India has emerged as a key player in the global effort to reduce child mortality rates.

The report emphasizes the country’s sustained and large-scale efforts to improve survival outcomes, particularly for newborns and children under five years of age. It showcases the effectiveness of a robust public health system driven by both central and state governments, highlighting India’s concrete initiatives to translate a national approach into measurable results on the ground.

The neonatal mortality rate has seen a staggering 70% decline, dropping from 57 in 1990 to 17 in 2024. Similarly, the mortality rate for children under five has decreased by 79%, falling from 127 in 1990 to 27 in 2024.

Over the past two decades, India has played a crucial role in reducing child mortality rates in the South Asia region. Since 1990, deaths among children under five have decreased by 76%, with a 68% reduction since 2000. This significant drop is largely attributed to targeted public health interventions, improved institutional delivery systems, and increased vaccination coverage in countries like India.

The region has witnessed a considerable reduction in the mortality rate for children under five, decreasing from 92 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to approximately 32 in 2024. This trend reflects ongoing improvements in child health outcomes.

India’s targeted interventions have significantly reduced deaths caused by preventable diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, and birth-related complications. The report indicates that most child deaths are preventable or treatable. It also notes that the expansion of universal vaccination programs, institution-based neonatal care, and integrated management of neonatal and childhood illnesses has led to a remarkable decrease in mortality rates.

Improvements in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in India have had a notable impact. Across South Asia, there has been nearly a 60% reduction in deaths among children with access to NICUs since 2000, and the mortality rate for children aged 1-59 months has decreased by over 75%.

Despite South Asia accounting for approximately 25% of global child deaths under five, the region has made the fastest progress in reducing these rates worldwide.

–