New moms in China are living longer while giving birth to healthier babies. Those figures and more are in a new report from China's health authority. Chinese women's life expectancy is up about 9 years since 1990, while babies are contracting fewer diseases. CGTN reporter Wu Guoxiu takes a look at the improvements in China's healthcare system that are to thank for the good numbers.

Out of every 100 thousand new mothers in China, 18 died from complications during maternity last year.

A ratio down 80 percent from 1990.

In the meantime, China's infant death rate dropped 88 percent in the same span.

The two gauges are used to measure the nation's progress in protecting women and children's health in a fresh report.

QIN GENG, DIRECTOR WOMEN & CHILDREN DEPARTMENT NATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION "In the last 70 years, we've made tremendous strides, fully protected women and children's survival, health and development rights. The World Health Organization announced China has eliminated tetanus in newborns, which indicates that our service quality and accessibility has reached a new level. We are aiming for development rather than survival now."

Since the 1990s, China has set goals for women and children's health development every 10 years.

Their health service quality reports are listed in the government's evaluation.

Maternal women can have free tests for infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, syphilis and hepatitis B.

They can also have free in-home health visits one week after giving birth. Children can enjoy free health check-ups until age 6, and free vaccines for 15 diseases.

QIN GENG, DIRECTOR WOMEN & CHILDREN DEPARTMENT NATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION "Children get inoculated at local medical facilities, the vaccination plan has formed a stable protection for children. We used to be a nation with serious Hepatitis B rates, now those rates are down to 1 percent, that's a very big change."

But, in recent years, the public has complained of a shortage of doctors for children. The nation is training more pediatricians to better protect its youth.

WU GUOXIU BEIJING "Doctors say women and children's health forms up the basis of all people's health. In the last 70 years, Chinese people's life expectancy has gone from 35 to 77. Authorities say China's achievements in women and children's health has surpassed the average level of most medium and high income countries. Wu Guoxiu, CGTN, Beijing."