Target 5: Reduce by two thirds the under-five Mortality Rate by 2015

The State of the World's Children Report puts Uzbekistan at 62nd place in the global ranking of under-five mortality figures. According to Uzbekistan Health Examination Survey (UHES) 2002, the average under-five mortality rate for the period of 1998-2002 was 73.3 per 1,000 live births. Acute respiratory infections and diarrheal contuniue to be main causes of under-five mortality.
Since the Government of Uzbekistan reports a steady decline in the infant mortality rates over the last decade from 26 per 1,000 live births in 1995 to 16.3 in 2003. However, according to 2002 Uzbekistan Health Examination survey reveals that the average IMR for the period of 1998-2002 was 62 per 1,000 live births.

More than 53 per cent of children in Uzbekistan are being raised with a deficiency of vitamin A. Since 2003, Uzbekistan has provided vitamin A supplementation nationwide, with approximately 2.2 million children under five, receiving vitamin A capsules twice a year.
More than 4 million women of fertile age and children under two years of age, in seven viloyats, have been provided with iron and folic acid supplementation, since 1999.
Malnutrition is considered to have a negative impact on the growth of the society. Currently, 20 per cent of children in Uzbekistan aged under-five, are malnourished. Iodine deficiency in particular, has been revealed to have negative consequences for the intellectual growth and development of children

What is being done to Reduce child Mortality?

To achieve large scale success the Government of Uzbekistan and international donor community combined their resources through innovative partnerships to work effectively toward common purposes.
In recent years success has been recorded in the strengthening of child health and nutrition services. Medical professors and local experts are ready to support the change of current practices on neonatal resuscitation and newborn care. Rooming-in was practiced nationwide covering 56 maternities and 182 maternity departments at rayon hospitals. Clean delivery practice has been introduced in all maternities.

Major reforms in the health system, aimed at opening the system to wider private sector involvement while providing a package of free medical care, were initiated in1998, outlining a number of benefits for specific and new changes in the system.
In addition, the reforms intend to improve maternal and child health through strengthening the system for emergency obstetric care and newborn care. It aims to restructure provision of reproductive health care services at the primary health care. National policy and program was adopted to promote exclusive breastfeeding and contributes to reduction of infant mortality and child morbidity.

Government pays special attention to developing the primary health care facilities and services targeting women and children. This is proved by continuous reforms to support women and child health through realization of a number of programs that are implemented under the framework of a year of "Healthy Generation" (2000) and a year of "Health"(2005)