India’s position in  UNICEFs 2013 report on Infant Mortality Rate

Ø  2.1 Million Infant deaths occur in the South Asian Region.

Ø  India alone accounts for 1.4 million deaths.

Ø  Two thirds of the Neonatal deaths occur in just 10 countries.

Ø  India accounts for more than a quarter of those deaths.

Ø  Nearly half of the all the new born deaths globally occur during first 24 hours.

Ø  India ranks number one in terms of death on the very first day of death.

Ø  Birth asphyxia is the single-most important cause of mortality.

Ø  Millennium Development Goals for under-5 mortality is less than 38 deaths per one thousand live births.

Ø   under 5 mortality rate in India is 56 in 2012. In Bangladesh and Nepal the rate of deaths is 41 and 42 respectively.   

Infant Mortality Rate refers to the number of deaths per one thousand live births.

What are Millennium Development Goals ?

Ø  The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are set of  international development goals which were established following the Millennium ummit of the United Nations in 2000.

Ø  All the member states of the United Nations have agreed to achieve these goals by the year 2015. 

Ø  Every goal has a specific target and date for achieving these targets.

Eight Millennium development goals are