MMR AND CMR DECLINES
The Demographic Health Survey by the government has shown that there has been a remarkable reduction in child and maternal mortality rate in Nepal in the last 10 year period.
The report released by Minister for Health and Population Giriraj Mani Pokharel states that there has been significant improvement in child and maternal health in Nepal.
According to the survey report, the maternal mortality rate in Nepal was 281 in every 1,00,000 births in the year 2006, a reduction from maternal mortality rate of 539 in the year 1996.
During the past ten years there has been a decrease in the child mortality rate with 48 newborn dying in every 1,000 births, according to the 2006 statistics. The mortality rate in children below 5 years of age, however, remained 61 in every 1,000 births.
The report says that in the year 2001 this mortality rate was 1 in every 11 births. Likewise, the survey states that 44 percent women currently use modern family planning contraceptives in the country, a good 9 percent increase from what it was in the year 2001.
There has been a remarkable increase in children taking vaccines against child diseases also, the report says. Similarly, the survey also states that 44 percent pregnant woman now take the help of skilled health workers during their delivery. The survey was conducted on more than 10,000 women between the ages of 15 to 49 and more than 4,000 men of the same age category.
Earlier, a report by Save the Children, too, had commended Nepal for making progress in child survival despite conflict and financial constraints. Save the Children's new Child Survival Progress Report Card ranks Bangladesh 3, Nepal 4 and India 10 among 60 developing countries in reducing child mortality since 1990. Pakistan ranks 17, while Afghanistan ranks 39.
The ranking included 60 developing countries, which together account for 94 percent of all child deaths worldwide. The rankings indicate which countries are succeeding and which are failing to save the lives of children under the age of 5 years.
“Among the developing countries, Bangladesh and Nepal are making great strides in child survival despite limited financial resources. These countries have invested in better health care for mothers, better nutrition for children, and lifesaving health care services to prevent and treat deadly diseases,” stated a press release issued by Save the Children Sweden Regional Office for South and Central Asia.
