Strategic Framework for improving newborn and child health in the South-East Asia Region (‎2024–2030)‎

Overview

The WHO South-East Asia Regional Strategic Framework for improving newborn and child health has been prepared to offer guidance to Member States (Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea [DPR Korea], India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste) to develop and strengthen national strategies and plans to improve newborn and child health and development. The Strategic Framework advocates for Member States to integrate an inclusive child health and development perspective into policies and actions, ensuring that governments commit to providing a healthy start for every child, aligning with child rights and overall societal and economic development goals. It emphasizes the importance of assessing the local situation to undertake appropriate actions and underscores the need for multisectoral collaboration, alignment with related health programmes and strengthening health systems. 

The implementation of initiatives in alignment with this Framework requires enhanced planning and capacity at both the national and subnational levels to scale up evidence-based interventions for newborn and child health across the continuum of care. However, it must be noted that this Framework is not an isolated strategy for newborn and child health. It recognizes that newborn and child health and well-being depend on the good health, nutrition and well-being of mothers and envisions it to be a part of a life-course continuum of care, which aligns harmoniously with maternal health programmes proximally and adolescent health programmes distally during programme implementation in countries. 

Substantial progress has been achieved in advancing the objectives of the Global Strategy of Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (GWCAH) 2016–2030, particularly in the areas of nurturing care for early childhood development, childhood nutrition and addressing violence against children. The under-5 mortality rate (U5MR) dropped by 47% between 2010 and 2022, exceeding the global reduction of 28%, and the neonatal mortality rate (NMR) decreased by 41%, surpassing the global reduction of 24%. Notably, countries like Bhutan, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand have achieved the SDG targets for U5MR, with Bangladesh, India and Nepal making substantial progress.

Similarly, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand have achieved the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets for NMR, and another four countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) are on track to achieving the SDG targets by 2030. While the overall SouthEast (SE) Asia Region is likely to achieve the SDG 2030 targets for U5MR and NMR, persistent efforts are needed, especially in Myanmar and Timor-Leste.

Vision: the regional vision is that all newborns and children survive and thrive to attain their maximum potential for health and well-being, and develop into fully productive citizens for their countries, the Region and the world.
Mission: countries in the Region achieve universal health coverage (UHC) for mothers, newborns and children with comprehensive good-quality health and wellness services that are evidence-based, equitable and affordable

Goals: this document aligns with the goals of GWCAH (2016–2030) and SDGs related to newborn and child health, focusing on the main SDG on health (SDG3) and related SDG for child development.

Guiding principles

The Regional Framework adopts the following guiding principles and recommends Member States to consider them while strengthening national newborn and child health and wellness programmes.

• Respecting and meeting child rights
• Primary health care oriented universal health coverage with equity and good quality of health care
• Evidence-based policies and data-driven programmes
• Life-course approach
• Multisectoral collaboration and partnerships
• Community engagement and empowerment

Strategic directions for improving newborn and child health

• Strategic direction 1: strengthening health systems
• Strategic direction 2: expanding coverage of effective interventions with equity
• Strategic direction 3: ensuring quality of care
• Strategic direction 4: empower and engage families and the community
• Strategic direction 5: address newer priorities in newborn and child health