Nepal has come out with flying colours in its bid to check the under-five child mortality rate which has declined by 67 per cent in the last decade. According to a UNICEF report, the country’s under-five mortality rate now stands at 59 per 1,000 live births, the third best in South Asia after Sri Lanka (13) and Maldives (30). Nepal is only one of seven countries to have reduced child mortality by more than two-thirds. What is even more remarkable is that such a steep decline has been witnessed during a period of conflict.

Health experts attribute the dramatic decline to the country’s focus on child healthcare. Timely immunisation, improvement in sanitation, integrated management of childhood illnesses, introduction of Vitamin A supplementation and other innovative approaches have helped save countless new lives. For instance, the government initiative to mobilise over 40,000 female community health volunteers for the Vitamin A and immunisation programmes has been effective. Yet so much more needs to be done to safeguard and improve the lives of Nepali children. The level of childhood malnutrition still remains high. Timely and thoughtful tackling of pressing concerns like illiteracy, food scarcity, poor hygiene and improving the socio-economic condition of the people are important for the success of any health initiative. But it is not yet the time to sit on our laurels.