UNICEF NOTES PROGRESS IN REDUCING CHILDHOOD MORTALITY IN AZERBAIJAN
Azerbaijan made considerable progress in reducing infant and under five mortality rates since 2000. According to the latest UNICEF estimates for all the countries of the world: in Azerbaijan in 2007, UNICEF estimated, for every 1000 children 34 died before they were one, and 39 died before they were five year old.
These estimates for Azerbaijan for the last years have been updated based on the recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted by the State Statistical Committee and MACRO International Inc. with participation of other governmental agencies and assistance from USAID and UNICEF in 2006.
According to DHS for every 1,000 children born during five years before the survey (2004 is taken as an average), 50 died before they were five years old. Of these, most (43 of the 50) died before they were one.
“Azerbaijan has made good progress in its attempt to reach MDG 4, a two-third reduction of child mortality by 2015. However, still much needs to be done in order to make sure the country is fully on track. High impact interventions in the field of mother and child health have to be implemented countrywide to bring down current child mortality rate and improve child health,” said Gillian Wilcox, UNICEF country representative.
“It is hoped that recent initiatives by the Ministry of Health, supported by UNICEF, such as reorganization of parental care system, development of necessary regulations, including neonatal care standards and clinical protocols, transition to WHO live birth definition implementation, as well as initiatives for bettering parenthood practices will contribute to further improvement of situation in child survival.”
