The neonate has only recently attained its rightful status as a full and equal partner in the spectrum of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) care, research, and policy initiatives. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the international development initiative for improving the social and economic conditions of the world's poor adopted 8 goals in 2000 that have a 2015 date for attainment. Significantly, 2 of the 8 goals are directed at MNCH: MDG 4 for child health including neonatal survival and MDG 5 for maternal health. Neonatal
deaths (deaths in the first 28 days of life) are a major portion child deaths, are often graphically depicted and monitored under-5 mortality, and serve as a sentinel indicator of
reproductive health. Most neonatal deaths occur within after birth.