The Ministry of Health held an opening ceremony on Thursday announcing 2014 as the year to support maternal and children”s health. The ceremony was attended by medical officials from provincial health departments, state hospitals and specialists in charge of maternal and children`s health at health centers as well as executives of the Ministry of Health.

In the first 11 months of this year 73,075 women gave birth and 73,445 new babies were born. The year 2013 saw the highest birth rate in 23 years compared to 1990 when 73,209 women gave birth. The National Statistics Committee has observed that  2013 marks the height of population growth in Mongolia.

The mortality rate is down to 5.9 percent and the maternal mortality ratio 5.9 (pro mille). Child mortality, also known as under-5 mortality, ratio was 0.9 (pro mille) in 2013.

Mongolia has undertaken a big step completing the Millennium Development Target 4 to reduce by two-thirds the under-five mortality ratio and Target 5A to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio, between 1990 and 2015. The Ministry of Health aims to keep it stabilized and to further reduce the under-five mortality and maternal mortality ratios to the lower level of Asia Pacific countries.

Nationwide the child and maternity mortality ratio has been reduced but the ratio is still higher in remote regions and provinces of Mongolia. The main contributing factors to the varying ratios are lack of association between social sectors to secure maternal and child health, inequality of medical services in remote regions and the lateness of medical services and emergency services due to domestic migration. Report shows that the maternal and child mortality ratio is higher in western and central regions.

There is an expectation of reform to the health sector among communities in Mongolia. More prompt and qualified medical services are required. But the issue of maternal and children’s health is considered the most serious problem in the Health sector.

Therefore the Ministry of Health has announced 2014 to be the year to support maternal and child health.