NEW DELHI, March 27 – The United Nations has praised India as an “exemplar” in reducing preventable child deaths, highlighting its health initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and strategic investments in healthcare that have saved millions of young lives.
A report by the U.N. Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, released on Tuesday, identified India, Nepal, Senegal, Ghana, and Burundi as countries that have made significant strides in child mortality reduction. The report credited strong governance, data-driven decision-making, and expanded maternal and child health programs for their success.
“Through strategic investments in its health system, India has already saved millions of young lives and paved the way to ensure healthy lives for millions more,” the report said.
Since 2000, India has reduced under-five mortality by 70% and neonatal mortality by 61%, driven by improved health coverage, expanded interventions, and enhanced medical infrastructure, it noted. The Ayushman Bharat scheme, the world’s largest health insurance program, was highlighted as a key factor in expanding access to healthcare.
The report also pointed to India’s initiatives such as free delivery care, newborn stabilisation units, and digital surveillance systems that track maternal and child health indicators to support evidence-based policies. Globally, under-five mortality dropped to 4.8 million in 2023, while stillbirths remained at 1.9 million, according to the report. While child deaths have more than halved since 2000, the U.N. warned that progress is slowing.
“Millions of children are alive today because of global commitment to vaccines, nutrition, and access to safe water and sanitation,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said. “But without the right policies and investments, we risk reversing these gains.”
