Kathmandu, A new report has shown a marked decline in the mortality rates of children under five years of age across Southern Asia, indicating significant progress over the past three decades. The collaborative data from UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Division, and the World Bank Group highlights a 72% reduction in under-five mortality rates from 1990 to 2022 in the region.

According to UNICEF, the number of children dying before their fifth birthday in Southern Asia plummeted from 5 million in 1990 to 1.3 million in 2022. This decline is attributed to various factors, including enhanced healthcare services, better newborn care, effective treatment of childhood illnesses, and expanded vaccination coverage. Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Regional Director for Southern Asia, emphasized the role of concerted efforts from governments, healthcare professionals, and local communities in achieving these results.

Despite these gains, challenges persist, with 1 in 29 children in Southern Asia still not surviving past five years, predominantly due to preventable or treatable conditions. The report underscores a critical need for focused interventions, especially in newborn care, to address the high neonatal mortality rates that account for a substantial proportion of under-five deaths in the region.

While countries like Iran, Sri Lanka, and Maldives have already met the SDG 2030 target for reducing under-five mortality, others, particularly Pakistan and Afghanistan, require significant acceleration in their efforts. Without substantial progress, an estimated eight million children could die in Southern Asia by 2030, with newborns constituting over half of these fatalities.

The findings call for enhanced investment in healthcare infrastructure and services to address the disparities affecting child survival rates, particularly in the most vulnerable populations. UNICEF urges regional governments to prioritize accessible and quality healthcare for every child to mitigate the risk of preventable deaths.