Ten Thousand Fewer Children Are Dying Every Day

by Mike Smith · 2009-09-13 07:57:00 UTC
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Child mortality has reached a record low, with the number of children dying before their fifth birthday down to under nine million. Distribution of things like measles vaccines and anti-malaria mosquito nets are due much praise for bringing the rate down, as is a rise in breast-feeding. Efforts continue to reduce the number further — targeting pneumonia and diarrhea would help reduce child mortality drastically.

UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman wasn't celebrating: “While progress is being made, it is unacceptable that each year 8.8 million children die before their fifth birthday. She further explained that "40 per cent of the world’s under-five deaths occurring in just three countries: India, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo." Resources are likely to focus on these countries in order to meet the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child deaths by two-thirds.

[Photo credit: hdptcar]

Mike Smith
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