PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry targets to reduce the infant mortaliy rate to 11 cases per 100,000 livebirths or 0.011 per cent by 2015, in line with the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ministry was confident this could be achieved as rate dropped from 530 cases in 1950 to 28 cases now.
“We are among the succesful countries in reducing this rate. We were praised in a World Health Meeting for bringing down the infant mortality rate drastically after independence,” he told reporters after launching the Putrajaya 5KM Walk at Taman Wetlands, here yesterday.
The programme was organised by the Malaysian Nursing Board and the Malaysian Midwives Board in conjunction with the World Midwives Day celebrations today, aimed to appreciate the work of midwives in caring for mother and child.
Liow said several measures had been taken to ensure the new goal was met, including improving the delivery system, increasing the number of specialists, nurses and midwives whether in hospitals or health clinics nationwide. — Bernama