The United Nations has praised India’s efforts to reduce preventable child deaths, describing the country’s progress as ‘exemplary’.
The UN cited key health initiatives, such as Ayushman Bharat, as significant factors in saving millions of young lives through strategic investments in its health system.
UN Considers India Among Five ‘Exemplar Countries’
The United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation released a report on Tuesday, recognizing India as one of five ‘exemplar countries’ in reducing child mortality.
Alongside India, countries like Nepal, Senegal, Ghana, and Burundi were acknowledged for their diverse strategies in tackling preventable child deaths.
The report highlighted that with political will, evidence-based strategies, and sustained investments, even countries with limited resources can make substantial progress in reducing mortality rates, bringing the world closer to ending preventable child deaths.
India’s Significant Gains In Reducing Child Mortality
India has made significant strides in reducing child mortality, as evidenced by a 70% reduction in under-five mortality and a 61% reduction in neonatal mortality since 2000.
The UN attributes these achievements to India’s strategic investments in health coverage, interventions, infrastructure, and human resources.
Key Health Initiatives Driving Success
One of the key programs highlighted by the UN is Ayushman Bharat, the world’s largest health insurance scheme.
It provides coverage of nearly USD 5,500 per family annually, including free delivery for every pregnant woman (including caesarean sections), along with infant care that offers free transport, medications, diagnostics, and dietary support in public health institutions.
India’s health system also strengthened its infrastructure with maternity waiting homes, maternal and child health wings, newborn stabilization units, sick newborn care units, and dedicated programs for birth defect screenings.
Further efforts like the use of antenatal corticosteroids for preterm labor, positive airway pressure for newborns, and follow-up care for vision and hearing have all contributed to improving newborn survival rates.
Skilled Birth Attendants And Data-Driven Health Systems
India has focused on training and deploying skilled birth attendants, such as midwives and community health workers, to provide appropriate maternal and child health services.
Additionally, the continuous improvement of data systems and digital surveillance of maternal, newborn, and child health indicators has enhanced evidence-based decision-making.
Common Strategies Among ‘Exemplar Countries’
The report emphasized that India, along with Nepal, Senegal, Ghana, and Burundi, has outpaced the global and regional decline in child mortality by employing strong governance, strategic health investments, and evidence-based health interventions.
These countries have prioritized universal access to health services, community-based care, and data-driven decision-making to reduce mortality.
Expanded immunization, maternal and newborn health programs, and innovative health financing models have also played a significant role in ensuring sustainability and accessibility in these countries.
Global Child Mortality Declines
Globally, the number of children dying before their fifth birthday declined to 4.8 million in 2023, while stillbirths showed a modest decline to around 1.9 million.
Since 2000, child deaths have dropped by more than half, fueled by sustained global investments in child survival.
However, progress has slowed, and millions of children continue to die from preventable causes.
The UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell, cautioned that without the right policy choices and adequate investments, the world risks reversing these hard-earned gains.
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