Progress towards MDG 4
Under-five mortality in the Eastern Mediterranean Region has decreased substantially in the past two decades. Progress has been slower in a number of countries, especially those with a high under-five mortality. These countries, and the Region as a whole, face remarkable challenges to achieve MDG4 by 2015. There is a need for coordinated, intensive efforts to further reduce deaths in children.
The United Nations Inter-agency Group on Child Mortality Estimation (IGME) provides estimates on progress in reduction of under-five mortality yearly using a standard methodology. The Group includes WHO, UNICEF, the United Nations Population Division, the World Bank and independent academics. It was established to carry out collaborative assessments of under-five and infant mortality rates in countries and monitor trends, to ensure among others consistency and comparability of data. The IGME estimates are the basis for the regional and country analysis:
Country profiles for 75 countries, including 10 countries in the Region, where more than 95% of maternal and child deaths occur are available from the “Countdown to 2015” website, focusing on coverage of effective, life-saving interventions and their determinants:
