Reducing Child Morality Rate Millennium Development Goal #4

Reducing Child Mortality 1.Infant Mortality Rate 2.Under-five Mortality Rate

Target of the UN Reduce child mortality by two-thirds, from 93 children of every 1,000 dying before age five in 1990 to 31 of every 1,000 in 2015.

Indicators 1.the under-five mortality rate 2.the infant mortality rate 3.proportion of 1 year old children immunized against measles

Reducing Child Mortality in the Philippines

Goal of the Philippines The current goal of the Philippines is to reduce the rate of child mortality in 1990 by two-thirds (2/3) the under-five mortality rate by 2015.

Infant and Under-Five Mortality Rate In 2004, the mortality rate of children under 5 (per 1,000 births) has decreased by 45.16%. The infant mortality rate (per 1,000 births), on the other hand, decreased by 26.59%.

Immunization of Children under 1 Year Old It was reported that in 2000, 65% of infants under 1 year old were immunized. This is an improvement from the reported 58% in Although there is quite a large disparity between the immunization of children in urban areas and rural areas, 68% in urban areas and 63% in rural areas, the number of children who are being immunized at present is much greater.

This progress is mainly due to the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), improvement in breastfeeding practices, vitamin supplementation every 6 months and the development of health facilities. The EPI aims to reduce child mortality caused by tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis and measles. The government also made it its goal to make Vitamin A supplements available to increase micronutrient intake. There have been numerous projects to maintain the quality and availability of local health care services. Immunization of Children under 1 Year Old

Probability of Attaining the 2015 Goal The Philippines has continuously improved in the three indicators of reducing child mortality (the under-five mortality rate, the infant mortality rate, and proportion of 1 year old children immunized against measles). Given this data and the strong support from the country’s government, it is highly likely that the Philippines will reach its target by 2015.