CHILD HEALTH POLICY, PROGRAM AND GAPS IN NEPAL

Child health has been recognized as fundamental right of every child since long time. Child mortality is regarded as an import indicator of the health status of a community, effectiveness of the services and level of living of people. Substantial progress has been made towards achieving MDG target related to child health but still, significant numbers of children are dying every day due to preventable causes such as improper or harmful practices, infection, vaccine preventable diseases and malnutrition; mostly in developing countries and in rural setting due to unavailability and/or poor quality child health services. Due to lack of awareness and other socio-cultural factors, available health services are not also utilized properly. The objective of this paper was to review relevant literatures to describe the gaps regarding child health policy, program and services delivered in Nepal. This paper built on review of relevant literatures published in between 1990 and 2017. Very few published studies reporting child health policy, program and gaps in Nepal were found. The study included policy, program, strategy, guidelines, annual reports published by government of Nepal, National and International Organizations. The review revealed that child health has been on topmost priority in Nepal since 1990 and it has been getting priority agenda in several policy papers. Progressive improvement in child health has been observed in between 1990 and 2017.During the period, Neonatal Mortality, Infant Mortality and child Mortality have been reduced by 58, 59 and 67 percent respectively and are on the track according to MDG target but achieving the further national and international policy targets (SDG) within the specified timeframe are still challenging especially neonatal health related targets. More efforts are needed to sustain the current achievement and make further progress on child health.