Republic of Moldova

The difficulties of transition and multiple crises have had a negative impact on children. The issue of child health is a primary concern of the Government and has been incorporated into the MDG. Due to sustained efforts, infant mortality has decreased over the past few years. It is one of the major achievements and Moldova is committed to maintain progress.

International targets:

• Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate.
  

Initial national targets:

• Reduce the infant mortality rate from 14.7 (per 1,000 live births) in 2002 down to 12.1 in 2006, 9.6 in 2010, and 6.3 in 2015.
  
• Reduce the under-5 mortality rate from 18.3 (per 1,000 live births) in 2002 down to 15.0 in 2006, 11.9 in 2010, and 8.4 in 2015.
  
• Increase the proportion of under-2 children vaccinated against measles from 99.2% in 2002 up to 100%, starting 2006.
  

(Source: draft National Report „Millennium Development Goals Report:„New Challenges – New Objectives”)

Revised national targets:

• Reduce infant mortality from 18.5 per 1,000 live births) in 2006 down to 16.3 in 2010 and 13.2 in 2015
  
• Reduce the under-5 mortality rate from 20.7 per 1,000 live births in 2002 down to 18.6 in 2010, and 15.3 in 2015
  
• Maintain the same level of vaccination against measles for children under 2 years, to be no lower than 96% in 2010 and 2015.

 

TRENDS

Moldova achieved important progress in reducing infant and child mortality.

• In 2008 Moldova began to apply the international live birth definition and, as expected, this methodology led to infant mortality indicators rising in that year.
• In 2009, the situation for infant mortality (12.1 cases per 1,000 live births), as well as the under-five mortality rate (14.3 cases per 1,000 live births) was significantly better than in 2000 (18.3 and, accordingly, 23.2 case per 1,000 live births).
• The targets for 2010 and 2015 for both indicators have been already achieved and it is important to maintain progress.
• Moldova currently has a much higher level of infant mortality than most other European countries.
• Children from poor families, children from families with many children and Roma children are less likely to have access to health care and face a higher risk of mortality. The second relevant target is increasing the proportion of children immunized against measles.
• Even though in 2007 the immunization rate reached 96.9 percent, the proportion of children under the age of two years who were vaccinated against measles declined in 2008 (94.4 percent).
• It is possible that the intermediary target for 2010 will not be met, while the accomplishment of the final target for 2015 greatly depends on the implementation of National Immunization Programmes and actions for increasing awareness of the positive effects of child vaccination against measles.

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