The World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region has seen improvement in achieving Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4, which calls for a reduction in child deaths, and MDG 5, which targets improved maternal health. To ensure the Region’s continued progress, the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific urges Member States to implement the Action Plan for Healthy Newborn Infants in the Western Pacific Region (2014–2020).
“Thanks to the efforts of Member States in the Western Pacific Region, deaths among children under five years of age declined by two thirds from the 1990 baseline—a milestone we achieved well before the 2015 deadline for MDG 4,” said WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Shin Young-soo. “This has been a tremendous accomplishment for our Region as a whole, and Member States are to be commended for their progress.”
Countries in the Western Pacific Region reduced deaths of children under five years of age by 75% between 1990 and 2011. Meanwhile, deaths occurring during the first 28 days of life, or neonatal deaths, have declined at a slower rate. Consequently, about 54% of child deaths under the age of five take place during the neonatal period, mostly from complications of preterm birth, asphyxia and infection. Two thirds of deaths occur in the first three days of life. Moreover, deaths are concentrated among poor, rural and disadvantaged groups less likely to receive quality care.
After the first month of life and through the first five years, the main cause of death is pneumonia in most countries. Conditions that cause the highest deaths are preventable and treatable through simple, affordable interventions. Strengthening health systems to provide such interventions to all children will save many young lives.
Reductions in child mortality, however, are uneven among and within countries. China and Mongolia have already achieved the MDG 4 target. Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Philippines and Viet Nam are likely to reach the target by 2015.
Meanwhile, maternal death, the focus of MDG 5, has decreased in most countries, as births attended by skilled attendants have increased. In the Region, maternal deaths have dropped by 66% (from 140 per 100 000 live births in 1990 to 49 in 2010) or 5.2% average annual reduction. While the coverage of maternal health care has improved in many parts of the world during the past decade, on average, only 8% of women in the Region do not benefit from skilled care during childbirth.
Jointly developed by WHO and UNICEF in consultation with Member States and other partners, the Action Plan for Healthy Newborn Infants in the Western Pacific Region (2014–2020) incorporates global and regional recommendations and scientific evidence, including nutrition and health system strengthening. The action plan also focuses on improving coordination among partners. Goals and targets were agreed upon in the action plan for elimination of preventable newborn mortality through the provision of quality early essential newborn care and increased coverage of births by skilled attendants.
The action plan is envisioned as a healthy start for every newborn infant. It is aimed at strengthening the health system to cultivate an enabling environment where skilled providers of newborn care value and practice Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) at every birth. Furthermore, the goal of the action plan is to eliminate preventable newborn deaths by providing universal access to high-quality EENC.