World Health Organization
منظمة الصحة العالمية
Organisation mondiale de la Santé

Progress toward MDG 4 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

طباعة

statisticsAn estimated 1.2 million deaths occurred in children under-5 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in 2007, a 26% decline from the 1990 level. Four countries (Egypt , Morocco , Oman and Tunisia) are close to achieving MDG 4, having reduced their under-5 mortality rate by 60% or more during the same period; many others are on track to achieve the goal by 2015 if current trends continue. Of concern are 6 out of 8 countries, most plagued by conflict, in which the under-5 mortality rate has decreased by less than a third in the 17-year period and remains high, namely Afghanistan, Djibouti, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia and Sudan. Close to a million deaths occurred among under-5 children in these countries in 2007, almost 80% of all under-5 deaths in the Region. The challenge of achieving MDG 4 in these countries is substantial. Detailed information on mortality rates and trends by country, based on the World Health Statistics, WHO, 2009, is presented in tables and illustrated with graphs in the section on "Data and statistics: Under five mortality and its causes".