Awami League government’s initiatives' improving mental and child health: Global Study Series rates Bangladesh as fast track country

The Lancet Global Health and the bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO) published the findings stating that between 1990 and 2011, under-five child mortality has declined by 65 percent from 151 to 53 per 1,000 live births, while the proportion of literate females aged 15–24 years old increased from 38 percent to 80 percent.
Also, maternal mortality dropped drastically by 66 percent, from 574 to 194 per 100000 live births.

Awami League initiatives behind the success

The Awami league government’s priority on key initiatives to reduce maternal and child mortality, such as immunization, oral rehydration therapy and family planning has significantly contributed the success.
“For example, the expanded programme on immunization (EPI) has been identified as the largest single contributing factor in the reductions to under-five child deaths,” added the series.
“This strategy has benefited even the most disadvantaged populations, and has contributed significantly to reducing child and maternal mortality,” the study series said.
Other factors contributing to the improvements in women’s and children’s health include a focus on women’s education, empowerment and gender equity.

The nine other low- and middle-income countries identified as the “fast-track” are Cambodia, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda and Viet Nam.

The series was coordinated by The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health with the collaboration of the World Health Organization, the World Bank Group, the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.