The rapid declines in mortality experienced by many developing countries after the Second World War have been largely due to public health and disease-control measures, which were imported from the developed countries and, therefore, have been independent of economic development.
These include DDT spraying; the use of antibiotics like penicillin and vaccines like the B.C.G. Scientific communication and international co-operation have made it possible for developing countries to import techniques developed by the economically advanced countries and apply them in mass public health programmes at a relatively small cost.
The assistance provided by the World Health Organisation to eradicate such mass killers as malaria, small-pox, etc., has been helpful. Thus, though the inverse relationship between economic development and mortality continues to hold true, the link between the two has considerably weakened.
It should, however, be noted that further declines in mortality in the developing countries will depend to a large extent on their economic development which will help them to get the maximum benefits from health programmes.