India Among 5 'Exemplar Countries' in Reducing Child Mortality: UN Report

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): India has been ranked as one of the five 'exemplar countries' in reducing child mortality, according to a United Nations report, due to significant improvements in its healthcare system, including the Ayushman Bharat programme.

The UN's recent *Child Mortality Estimation* report highlights that countries like India, Burundi, Ghana, Nepal, and Senegal, despite facing financial and geographical challenges, have made remarkable progress in reducing preventable child deaths. The report underscores that with political will, evidence-based strategies, and sustained investments, even resource-limited settings can achieve significant reductions in mortality, bringing the world closer to ending preventable child deaths.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data, India's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) decreased from 32 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 28 per 1,000 live births in 2020, surpassing the 2019 target. The country's under-5 mortality rate (U5MR) also significantly declined, from 45 to 32 per 1,000 live births between 2014 and 2020.

The report attributes these gains to India's investment in its healthcare system. It notes that since 2000, India has reduced under-five mortality by 70% and neonatal mortality by 61%, driven by measures to increase health coverage, improve interventions, and develop health infrastructure and human resources.

The UN report particularly lauds India's flagship scheme, Ayushman Bharat, the world’s largest health insurance programme, which provides pregnant women with free delivery services (including cesarean sections), nutritional support, and infant care. It also highlights improvements in health infrastructure, such as maternity waiting homes, child health wings, newborn stabilisation units, and sick newborn care units.

Additionally, India has prioritized the training of skilled birth attendants, such as midwives and community health workers, and improved digital surveillance systems to monitor maternal, newborn, and child health indicators, supporting evidence-based decisions.

These efforts ensure millions of healthy pregnancies and thriving births each year, the report concludes.