India has continued to make steady progress in reducing child mortality, even as the world witnesses a worrying slowdown in gains. According to a new United Nations report, millions of children under the age of five continue to die from preventable causes, underlining the urgent need for stronger healthcare systems and sustained investment.
Globally, an estimated 4.9 million children died before their fifth birthday in 2024, including 2.3 million newborns. While under-five deaths have fallen significantly since 2000, the pace of decline has slowed sharply since 2015.
The report highlights that many of these deaths could have been prevented through low-cost, proven interventions such as timely vaccinations, treatment for malnutrition, access to skilled healthcare professionals during childbirth, and better newborn care.
A particularly concerning finding is that newborn deaths now account for nearly half of all under-five deaths globally. Complications linked to preterm birth, birth trauma, infections, and conditions arising during labour remain among the leading causes.
For Southern Asia, including India, the first month of life remains the most vulnerable period. Preterm delivery, birth asphyxia, neonatal infections, and congenital conditions continue to be major contributors to child mortality, making maternal and newborn care more critical than ever.
At the same time, India’s continued progress reflects the impact of long-term public health efforts, stronger newborn care infrastructure, immunisation drives, and improved maternal care services. Initiatives focused on institutional deliveries, community health workers, and newborn survival programmes have helped improve outcomes over the years.
The larger concern, however, is the global slowdown. Funding cuts, fragile health systems, conflict, and climate-related disruptions are placing maternal and child health services under immense strain.
Experts warn that without renewed political commitment and stronger investment in primary healthcare, hard-won gains could be reversed.
Every child’s life saved is not just a health statistic, it is a measure of how well a nation protects its most vulnerable.