Australia has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world. In many other countries, giving birth isn’t as safe. Over 60% of 8.8 million child deaths worldwide occur in just six countries: India, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, China and Ethiopia.

Other nations are being left behind too. Afghanistan has long been a black spot for infant mortality with more than 1 child in 4 dying within the first month of their life.

So why is it happening in these parts of the world? Limited government spending on health has clear links with child mortality. Despite the national crises in the worst 30 countries for infant mortality, more than half spend less than 10% of their budget on health.

This low spending has meant that many nations have been unable to lower rates of infant mortality for the last 20 years.

Developed nations can support better funding for healthcare in the developing world by doing more to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. To make giving birth as safe as it is in Australia, World Vision believes it is crucial that the world focus on two goals in particular: Goal 4 to reduce child mortality by two-thirds, and Goal 5 to improve maternal health.

In 2009, it is known that achieving MDG 4 would likely save 12.5 million children's lives in the 5 years to 2015, and would save 29 million lives in the 10 years to 2020.

A little progress has been made. One third of the 150 developing nations have made strong efforts to decrease their infant mortality. Countries such as the Maldives, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Peru and Vietnam have reduced child deaths by over two-thirds since 1990, and have achieved their MDG 4 targets nine years before 2015.

However, of all the Millennium Development Goals, Goals 4 and 5, the only health-related ones, are the furthest off-track. Goal 5 is of particular concern, as only 10% of the progress required has been achieved.

With the World Bank estimating that without urgent action, as many as 2.8 million additional child deaths could occur between 2009 and 2015, due to a fall in household income and public spending in the poorest countries, a concerted international effort is most definitely needed.

*Child Health Now Campaign