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Reduction of under-five child mortality rate in Bangladesh

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December 18, 2000 

Dhaka-- (UNB)- Bangladesh has progressed in reducing under-five child mortality rate and is now positioned after Sri-Lanka and Maldives among the SAARC countries.

Internationally Sri Lank was ranked 135th in 1999 in under-five child mortality, Maldives 55th and Bangladesh 53rd.

Japan, Norway, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland topped the rank, 187th, in the lowest rate of child mortality.

This was disclosed at the launching of “The State of World’s Children 2001” at LGED Bhaban this afternoon by UNICEF.

It called upon the individuals, governments, international agencies and donors to fully fund early childhood care measures, especially up to three years age.

UNICEF says $80 billion is needed every year to give every newborn in the world a good start in life.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Prof Zinatun Nesa Talukdar and UNICEF representative Shahida Azfar spoke at the launching ceremony, chaired by Dr Shah Mohammad Farid, member of the Planning Commission.

Child specialist Prof MQK Talukder made a presentation on Early Childhood Development.

The Sate of the World’s Children is an annual publication, which focuses on key issues to improve the lives of children and women.

This year’s edition focuses on Early Child Development (ECD) and that every child should have the best possible start in life.

Executive Director of UNICEF, Carol Bellamy launched report simultaneously in New York yesterday.

In its annual assessment of the well being of children, UNICEF report says that investing in children aged 0-3 is the only way to ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential.

The report argues that investment in early childhood development is also essential to make real gains in education, economic development, crime and debt reduction.

Prof Zinatun Nesa Talukder said a “holistic vision of the child” is the right of every child.

The project, Early Child Development (ECD) for 2001-2005, has jointly been taken up by the Women and Children’s Affairs ministry and UNICEF. It will play an important role in ensuring the right of children, the minister said.

The children’s affairs minister said the project will not create a new programme structure but will work through existing government components and NGOs who have outlets to reach community or family.

Prof Zinatun Nesa said the ultimate goal of the project is to empower the caregivers to create a safe, secure, stimulating and enabling environment which promotes these developments in a child from conception to the age of five.

She said the government of Sheikh Hasina has taken a three-year national programme for the children from 1997 to 2000 focusing on various sectors including basic education, health and nutrition, environment, and safe water and providing shelters to disadvantaged children.

The Prime Minister had declared the decade, 2001 to 2010, as a decade of Children’s Right and announced Child Birth Registration Award for achieving success in birth registration, the minister said.

She said the government was also considering creating a separate Directorate for children.