Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, Malawi has reduced its child mortality rate by more than two-thirds, saving the lives of 280,000 children under age five.

The southeast African country credits its success to three areas: the use of treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria among pregnant women and children; enhancement of its rural community clinics to treat common childhood ailments like diarrhea and infections, and increased immunizations against diseases like polio.

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Reducing child mortality was one of the 8 United Nations Millennium Development Goals set in 2000 to aid the world's most vulnerable people by addressing poverty, the spread of HIV/AIDS and lack of water, sanitation and education.

Overall, child mortality rates for kids under five have plunged by 53 percent since 1990- down from 12.7 million per year to 5.9 million.

Introducing more lifesaving efforts for newborns in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia - areas with the most child deaths- is critical to bringing down global figures even further.

UNICEF, the UN children's aid group, celebrated the milestone, having reached-and exceeded-the goals before the end of the target year, with a beautiful video from Malawi.

(WATCH the video from Unicef Malawi below) Photo: UNICEF

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