Pakistan

There are six indicators relating to goal 4. First indicator is the decline in under five mortality from 140 in 1990-91 to 52 by 2015. Over the 1990-91 to 2004-05 the child mortality has declined to 100, a decline of 40 percentage points. MTDF target is to reduce child mortality rate to 77 in 5 years and then a further reduction of 25 percentage points if the target for 2015 is to be met. Special efforts would be required to meet the target. Second, infant mortality rate of 102 in 1990-91 is to be reduced to 40 by 2015. Over the last 14 years the mortality has declined by 29 percentage point and the MTDF has a target of 65. There seems very little possibility of meeting the MDG. Third, proportion of fully immunized children of 12-23 month should exceed 90 percent by 2015. Since in 1990-91 the proportion was 75 percent the target looked within reach but by 2004-05 the proportion barely increased to 77. Why the progress has been so slow needs to be examined? Fourth, proportion of children immunized against measles in the age bracket of less than 1 year has to increase to more than 90 percent. There has been slippage in this target as well; proportion declined form 80 to 78 and the MTDF target is 90. There is a need to examine as to why there has been slow progress. Fifth indicator relates to the children suffering from diarrhea and the proportion fell from 26 in 1990-91 to 16 in 2004-05. Since the proportion has already declined form 26 to 16 percent the target is likely to be achieved. Sixth, Lady Health workers coverage is to be universal by 2015. In 2000-01 the coverage was 33.6 and it had reached to 80 percent by 2004-05. The target seems to be easily achievable.