The Way Forward for United Nations Millennium Development Goal on Reduction of Child Mortality

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals to be achieved by end of 2015 that respond to the world's main development challenges. The MDGs are drawn from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration that was adopted by 189 nations-and signed by 147 heads of governments during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.

The eight MDGs break down into 21 quantifiable targets that are measured by 60 indicators.  The various MDGs are:

       Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

       Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

       Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

       Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

       Goal 5: Improve maternal health

       Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

       Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

       Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

In case of Goal 4 the target is to reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five and the indicators chosen by the UN are: Infant mortality rate; Under five mortality rate and Proportion of 1 year-old children immunized against measles.  Global estimates indicate that the neonatal component of deaths in children younger than 5 years (38% in 2000) is increasing. The same is true in case of India too.  Although there are substantial regional variations in these proportions (24% in Africa to 56% in the western Pacific), even in areas with similar neonatal mortality rates (47% in Southeast Asia and 26% in sub-Saharan Africa), it is obvious that the Millennium Development Goal for child survival cannot be met without substantial reductions in neonatal mortality globally. For effective neonatal survival efforts, reasonably accurate information about the causes of deaths is essential.