Malaysia Ranks 41 Out Of 165 In World's Mothers Report

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia ranked 41st in the world as the best place to be a mother, according to Save the Children's 13th State of the World's Mothers Report. The ranking, which compared 165 countries around the world, looks at factors such as a mother's health, education and economic status, as well as critical child indicators including health and nutrition. Last year, Malaysia was ranked at 36th. Overall, the report showed that Niger is the worst place to be a mother – replacing Afghanistan for the first time in two years – while Norway came in at first place for the third consecutive year. The index of ranking split into three categories namely developed countries, less developed countries and least developed countries. The report's index ranking for seven countries in South East Asia were Thailand at 16th place, Vietnam (20th), Philippines (52nd) and Indonesia (59th), while in the category of least developed countries, Cambodia ranked at 6th place followed by Myanmar at 7th and Lao People's Democratic Republic (11th). "There has been good economic growth across South East Asia in the last decade, but the results show that strong policies and investments targeted at improving maternal and child health, education and women's rights are necessary," said Michel (rpt Michel) Anglade, Save the Children's Campaigns and Advocacy Director in Asia. Despite the leap in reducing child mortality and stuning remains a problem in South East Asia, he said two in five children in Indonesia, one in four children in Vietnam and one in six children in Thailand are stunned. The report emphasised nutrition as a key factor in determining pregnant mothers' and their children's well-being and to focus on the child's first 1,000 days starting from pregnancy. Malnutrition was the underlying cause of more than 2.6 million child deaths each year. "Our report shows that a mother’s breast milk - one single nutrition intervention - can save a million children’s lives each year. Policies and programmes must be put in place in all countries to ensure all mothers have the support they need to choose to breastfeed if they want to. "Acting now not only saves lives, but saves dollars as well,” explained Anglade. Globally, malnutrition claims more than 2.6 million young lives each year, and, of those who survive, 171 million face a hidden crisis of chronic malnutrition which stunts their physical and mental growth and leaves them unable to ever reach their full potential. The direct cost of the malnutrition crisis, affecting both the developed and developing world, is estimated at US$20 to US$30 billion per year. On breastfeeding, Save the Children found that the simple measure of supporting mothers to breastfeed could save one million children's lives a year especially in low-income countries like Myanmar and Laos. Yet the report also showed that less than 40 percent of all infants in developing countries received the full benefits of exclusive breastfeeding. The leading independent organization also called on governments, donors and international agencies to prioritise investing in frontline health workers and girls' education, both of which are essential to breaking the cycle of malnutrition. -- BERNAMA