Nepal aims to reduce neonatal deaths to 13, but experts sceptical about the goal’s success

Deaths haven’t declined since 2016, and Nepal’s target for SDGs is to reduce these to 12 per 1,000 live births by 2030.

The 16th five-year periodic plan, proposed by the National Planning Commission, aims to reduce neonatal deaths to 13 from the existing 21 in every 1,000 live births. Public health experts, however, are sceptical of its success, as neonatal deaths have not declined since 2016, and the measures taken at present are not sufficient to lessen the ongoing death rates.