Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Bangladesh advanced by six spots to secure 130th position in a global survey covering 178 countries, showing the country's status in saving and improving the lives of mothers and children.
The Save the Children's 2014 Mother Index shows that Finland is the best place to be a mother for the second straight year and Somalia came in last.
With the improvement, Bangladesh has widened the gap with neighbouring India and Pakistan, but still lags behind Nepal (116th) and Sri Lanka (89th).
The index is part of the agency's annual State of the World's Mothers report, now in its 15th edition, according to a statement issued on Monday by the Dhaka office of Save the Children.
In Bangladesh, over the past 15 years maternal mortality decreased by 60 percent, child mortality was halved, average number of years of schooling increased by three years, and gross national per capita income as well as the number of women in parliament were more than doubled.
“This is a result of strong political will and willingness to invest in healthcare for children,” said Michael Foley, director of health and nutrition at Save the Children, Bangladesh.
BBN/ANS/AD/06May14-11:00am (BST)
