to health care and gender equality. There are a number of legislations that safeguard the right of the child to health care. Chief among these is the Child Act, 2010. Article 7 of this Act stipulates the right of the child to breast feeding for two years and Article 8 provides for a two year paid motherhood leave. Articles 9, 10 and 11 stipulate the right of the child to immunization and free medical follow up card which goes with him until he/she joins school. Article 12 stipulates the right of the school children to regular medical checks. Article 13 prohibits addition of unauthorized materials to child food and Article 14 provides for the right of the child to primary health services. Article 15 provides for the right of the child to protection against infectious diseases and to receive medical treatment in emergencies. Article 16 obliges pairs wishing to marry to undergo medical test before marriage. Article 17 stipulates referral of children suffering from mental and psychological conditions to specialized government hospitals. Article 18 prohibits sale of tobacco, alcohol and narcotics to children. The Public Health Act, 2008 reiterated the right medical care to all segments of the population, with special emphasis on women and children. National health programs on child care covered four areas to fulfill the right of the child to survival and development: - Primary Health Care Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Expanded Program on Immunization The National Nutrition Directorate Political decisions have been taken to enhance the right of the child to survival and development. These included: - Release of female prisoners who keep their children with them - Maximization of work in the field of immunization - Prohibition of detention of pregnant and breast feeding mothers. Trial of these women is to be postponed for two years. - Free medical treatment for children involved in accidents - Two years paid motherhood to breast feeding mothers. Sudan Household Health Survey, 2006 which covered both north and south Sudan for the first time revealed that the mortality rate among children below 5 is 112/1000 live births and the mortality rate among children below one year is 80/1000 live births.2 Drop in the mortality rate was not very significant during the period 1990-2006. The mortality rate among children below one year dropped from 80/1000 live births to 71/1000 live births and the mortality rate among children below 5 dropped from 143/1000 to 112/1000 live births. It is worthwhile mentioning that the mortality rate among infants amounted to 40/1000 live births which means that about 50% of the mortality rate among children below one year occur during the first weeks of these newborns. This calls for the importance of improvement in reproductive health services as a basic intervention to reduce of babies. 2 Health Development Strategic Report, 2008 34