The Western Pacific Regional Child Survival Strategy: progress and challenges in implementation

The Regional Child Survival Strategy (RCSS) was launched by the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund in 2006. This initially involved the six highest mortality burden countries in the region (Cambodia, China, Laos PDR, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Vietnam). This paper aimed to describe the experiences of countries in the region in adopting and implementing the RCSS, and to identify factors that promote and impede progress. Child mortality has fallen substantially since 1990, and the region as a whole is on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG-4) targets. Some countries have made slower progress and are struggling. There is an urgent need to support countries that have, until now, not been included in the RCSS, particularly smaller Pacific Island nations, and to provide greater support to the poorest countries if MDG-4 targets for the region are to be achieved.