On September 13, 2013 the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) of Ethiopia and UNICEF
announced that Ethiopia has successfully reduced the under-five mortality rate by two
thirds between 1990 and 2012, which is the target for achieving Millennium Development
Goal-4. In 1990, the under-five mortality rate in Ethiopia was one of the highest in the
world at 205/1,000 live births. However, by 2012, this rate had declined to 68/1,000 live
births with an average annual rate of decline of 5.0%. This exceeded the 4.3% annual rate
of decline needed to reach MDG4 and was significantly higher than the decline rates
observed in many sub-Saharan African countries and even other low and middle-income
countries. In an effort to understand the story behind Ethiopia’s remarkable achievement
of MDG-4, EPHI has conducted this in-depth Case Study which is supported by Countdown
to 2015. The findings are believed to generate valuable lessons and guidance for other
low-income countries in their quest for accelerating health improvements and reducing
child deaths
