Pakistan needs to do more to bring down under-five MR: World Bank

Islamabad, Jan 25 (UNI) Pakistan needs to do more to bring down its current mortality rate of 94 per 1,000 lives by four per cent, said a World Bank (WB) delegation.

While the under-five mortality rate in Pakistan was 94 per 1,000 lives against 87 in India and 78 in Bangladesh, Pakistan needed to do more for the mortality rate to come down by four per cent, the four-member WB delagation said during its January 23 meeting with caretaker Health Minister Ejaz Rahim, as reported by Paksitan's Daily Times.

The Health Ministry is on the way to achieve millennium development goals (MDGs), it said.

The delegation, comprising Benjamin Lovenson, Mahnaz Kazi, Dr Inamul Haq and Anes Cooffinhal, delivered a presentation to the minister, indicating Pakistan's track record in achieving Health MDG-1 (nutritional status of children), MDG-4 (infant and child mortality rates) and MDG-5 (maternal mortality rate).

The nutrition status of under-five Pakistani children in terms of weight was better than their counterparts in other South Asian countries.

The delegation, however, highlighted the need to overcome micronutrient deficiencies. Consequently, greater efforts were required to achieve the MDGs, it said.

Findings of the WB study said the infant mortality rate of female children was lower than male children. The minister appreciated the briefing.

UNI XC AKJ RS0943