Topic: Reducing Infant Mortality
Country: Nepal
Delegate Name: Anudeeta Gautam
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Nepal position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
Infant mortality heavily impacts families around the world but is often overlooked due to myths of overpopulation and health-illiteracy surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. According to the Global Health Observatory, the infant mortality rate has decreased about 45% since 1990, but with an estimate of 4.5 million deaths under the age of one in 2015, more effective solutions are yet to be found. In developing countries such as Nepal, and especially in its poverty-stricken communities, the inhabitants tend to follow their own superstitious customs and home remedies. Already a country with a low GDP, low-income and unemployed families in villages cannot afford to see a specialist when the mothers are in labor. The lack of health institutions and hospitals in proximity to their homes, as well as the lack of access to a family physician further aggravates the issue. The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal recognizes that one of its biggest challenges is addressing how to reduce infant mortality, as well as maternal mortality.
As seen on Nepal’s country profile from the World Health Organization, in 2012, 24 neonatal and 42 children under-five died per 1000 live births. More shockingly, only 36% of births in 2011 were attended to by skilled workers. However, Nepal has been continuously working towards reducing these numbers, even being successfully on track to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 (to reduce child mortality) and 5A (to reduce maternal mortality). A few milestones in terms of acts, policies, programs, strategies, plans and frameworks in key health care sectors are the Free Health Care Policy of 2007, Guideline for Below Poverty Level Medical Treatment Support Program of 2010 and Multi-sector Nutrition Plan For Accelerating the Reduction of Maternal and Child Under-nutrition in Nepal 2013-2017 of 2012.
We advocate prolonged aid for methods and solutions aiming to reduce infant mortality in Nepal. This includes increasing funds towards non-governmental organizations fighting for providing free and more accessible healthcare for the poor, and campaigns for public health education. Any country in need of assistance should be able to receive it from the United Nations, with respect to cost, availability, transportation, and governmental conflicts. It is the UN's job to implement goals already agreed upon by the international community. Improving the existing efforts being made by Nepal and the World Health Organization, along with public support, will evoke some definitive and historical changes in the country.
