Regional progress in survival of newborns, children and mothers: Moving towards Global Strategy targets
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Abstract
The Region achieved significant reduction in mortality among women, newborns and children in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) phase. Further reduction has continued in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) phase. Reduction in maternal mortality in the South-East Asia (SEA) Region (69% between 1990 and 2015) is the highest among all WHO regions. The SEA Region has reduced child mortality by 67% since 1990 and achieved the MDG4 target in 2016; however, decline in neonatal mortality has been relatively slow (57%).Progress in mortality reduction was possible only because of sustained national commitment and continued domestic investment by Member States of the Region. Seven Member States achieved the MDG4 and three Member States achieved the MDG5A targets by 2015. All Member States continue to remain committed and geared up towards achieving the ambitious SDG targets.WHO has worked closely with Member States to strengthen actions to end preventable maternal and child mortality with a focus on newborn mortality. The Regional Flagship for Ending Preventable Mortality has been instrumental in catalysing action in these high-priority Member States. The regional strategic frameworks supported the updating of national strategies and plans to increase coverage and address inequities, thus accelerating reduction in mortality in the past five years. The Regional Office has convened the Regional H6 Working Group involving other UN agencies to ensure harmonized and collaborative efforts, and galvanized joint support to Member States.The Meeting of Parliamentarians held during 26–27 July 2018 witnessed lawmakers and champions from Member States rededicate their commitment to enhancing efforts towards ending preventable maternal and child mortality and reducing stillbirths. They also focused on adolescent health and achieving the Global Strategy objectives.The attached Working Paper was presented to the High-Level Preparatory (HLP) Meeting for its review and recommendations. The HLP Meeting reviewed the paper and made the following recommendations for consideration by the Seventy-first Session of the Regional Committee:Actions by Member States• Continue to work using an integrated approach with reproductive, newborn, maternal,child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) programme activities remaining at the heart ofuniversal health coverage through increased accessibility for women, children andadolescents, and ensuring quality of care while "leaving no one behind".• Devote particular attention to address wealth and social inequities by financialprotection and innovative mechanisms to improve the access to quality essentialservices for underserved populations.• Continue to ensure that national commitments are sustained and that there isprovision of enhanced domestic resources - including financial, human resources - andessential supplies through greater allocation of domestic budgets.Actions by WHO• Continue to provide strategic guidance and technical support for addressing gaps incoverage, quality and accountability, towards further acceleration of processes toreduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality and towards achieving the "thrive"objective.• Support capacity-building in monitoring of programmes and resource mobilization forRMNCAH programme activities in the countriesThis working paper and the HLP Meeting recommendations are submitted to theSeventy-first Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia for itsconsideration。Citation
World Health Organization. Regional Office for South-East Asia. (2018). Regional progress in survival of newborns, children and mothers: Moving towards Global Strategy targets. World Health Organization. Regional Office for South-East Asia. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/273957