The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The number of children who die before their fifth birthday in Bangladesh can be reduced significantly if integrated health strategies are implemented, said the UNICEF in a report.

The report titled 'State of the World's Children 2008:Child Survival' was launched by the UNICEF at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel yesterday.

Health Secretary AKM Zafar Ullah Khan and UNICEF Representative a.i. David Bassiouni jointly launched the Bangla and English versions of the publication at the function.

Director General of Health Services Prof Md Abul Faiz presented the keynote paper outlining the present child survival situation in Bangladesh.

The publication emphasises that community-level integration of essential services for mothers, newborns and young children and sustainable improvements in national health system can save the lives of most of the 26,000 children under five years who die each day globally. The challenge is to ensure children have access to a continuum of health care, backed by strong national health systems.

According to the report, the mortality rate of children who are below five years is 69 in Bangladesh, while the mortality rates of infant and neo-natal are 52 and 36 respectively.

There are 22 per cent of infants with low birth weight and 48 per cent of children below five years who are suffering from underweight where 43 per cent of children below five years are found stunted in the country.

The report reveals that 74 per cent of population use improved drinking water sources where 39 per cent of population use adequate sanitation facilities.

It says that the poorest children are also more exposed to diseases and are less likely to get appropriate care. Districts with large remote and rural population experience higher under 5 years old mortality rate. Immunization coverage also varies according to districts.

The report observes that education is an important factor as caretaker's knowledge and care-seeking behaviour is often related to the education level. Educated mothers are more likely to give adequate care to the sick children.

Considerable successes were achieved in Bangladesh in immunization coverage, which has increased steadily during the last two decades. Immunization is one of the factors that have played a cortical role in reducing infant and child mortality, the report says.

In case of diarrhoea, 70 per cent of the caretakers use Oral Rehydratation Therapy, which is the best way to treat the child.

The report says 92 per cent of newborn baby is protected against tetanus where 88 per cent and 81 per cent of one year-old child are immunized respectively against DPT3 and Measles.

According to the report, 30 per cent of children who are under 5 years old with suspected

pneumonia are taken to appropriate health-care providers.

It says that the impact of simple, affordable life-saving measures, such as exclusive breastfeeding, immunization, ORT and vitamin A supplementation, all of which have helped to reduce child deaths in recent years.

"Bangladesh has made remarkable progress by cutting by half the number of under-five child deaths since 1990," said David Bassiouni. Bangladesh is on the track to achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG)-4 on child mortality reduction.

However, despite these very positive results, disparities in education, income and access to services are still affecting child survival said David Bassiouni.

He said "Reaching the unachieved and the most marginalized communities with adequate health care remains a challenge for us today in Bangladesh."

AKM Zafar Ullah Khan said, "Child mortality is a sensitive indicator of a country's development. We believe that by investing in the health of children and women, we are building a better future for Bangladesh. The remarkable advances we have made in reducing child deaths give reasons for optimism. The causes of and solutions to child deaths are well known, it is a matter of commitment to overcome the last obstacles."

The report analysis reveals that far more needs to be done to increase access to treatment and means of prevention, so the devastating impact of pneumonia, diarrhoea, childhood injuries, severe acute malnutrition can be better addressed.

The new information in The State of the World's Children 2008 is drawn from household survey as well as material from key partners, including the World Health Organisation and the World Bank.