Despite being one of the world’s most densely populated countries, Bangladesh has managed to make extraordinary progress in child survival in the past few decades.

With a population of more than 150 million people, poverty is widespread but in recent years, Bangladesh has been able to reduce population growth and improve health and education. The country is on track to achieve its Millenium Development Goals for maternal and child health.

However, child mortality still remains relatively high, with major health challenges including diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory tract infections and malnutrition.

An Australian government-supported research institution called the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), developed an Oral Rehydration Solution in the late 1960s to treat severe diarrhoeal diseases, which saved the lives of over 50 million children.

According to the World Health Organization, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death, killing 69.5 thousand people in 2012.