Background and Rationale

The MINI program is well justified because it addresses the persistent high neonatal mortality rate in Nepal by expanding on the SNL-funded MINI 1, which demonstrated the ability of community-based health workers to correctly manage neonatal infections.  The project will work within the currently permissive government policy on infection management of newborns, and will provide the Ministry of Health and Population with an efficient and tested model ready for expansion throughout the country.

High Neonatal Mortality - The recent Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2006  has demonstrated the continued and somewhat remarkable trend in reduction in infant and child mortality over the past 2 decades. Nepal has successfully implemented and sustained nationwide twice-yearly vitamin A supplementation, the steady expansion of the community-based management of pneumonia and diarrhea at the household and community level by trained Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) and high coverage rates for the EPI and FP programs. However, the neonatal mortality rate remains high (33/1000 live births), and has not declined to the same degree as other child health indicators. Neonatal mortality now accounts for over 50% of under-five mortality (65/1000 live births) in Nepal.

(Source: Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys  1991, 1996, 2001,2006)