Most preventable child deaths occur in middle-income countries, says World Vision report

Monday, November 12, 2012

Political action for most vulnerable could save more than four million children each year 

In a new report, launched on World Pneumonia Day, World Vision says more than 4.4 million children die each year from the six most preventable causes, and the majority of those deaths take place in countries classified as ‘middle income’.

“We often think of child mortality as a problem unique to the poorest places on earth, but in actual fact, most children who die from preventable diseases live in middle-income countries like India, Indonesia and China,” said World Vision Australia chief executive Tim Costello. “Inequality in these nations is a major contributor to poverty today. Just because a country’s economy is strengthening, doesn’t guarantee all its citizens will share in that prosperity.”

The report, “Never Had A Chance: Why millions of children still die needlessly every year”, highlights the six main killers of children under the age of five, and the governmental action needed to save more than four million lives each year.

Each year:

  • Preterm complications kill one million children
  • Pneumonia kills one million children
  • Newborn infections kill 700,000 children
  • Diarrhoea kills 700,000 children
  • Birth complications kill 600,000 children
  • Malaria kills 500,000 children

These killers are neither surprising nor complicated, the report says. Pneumonia, for example, can be bacterial or viral, but both types are generally preventable through good nutrition, hygiene and appropriate care for children.

Over the past two decades, significant progress has been made in the area of child mortality.  Between 1990 and 2011, the number of child deaths fell from around 12 million to 6.9 million - a 42 per cent reduction.

“The reduction in child deaths shows us that good aid does save lives,” Mr Costello said. “But there is still a lot of work to be done. The UN’s Millennium Development Goal to reduce child deaths by two thirds by 2015 is likely to miss its target by 15 years, and what makes this even more tragic is that most of these deaths are preventable.”

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Tim Costello has just returned from Indonesia. To interview him, please contact Kate Rose on 0418 528 683 or Chloe Adams on 0427 413 816.

 

Notes to editors:

  • From November 13-20, World Vision is running its first Global Week of Action, a mobilisation designed to increase attention on the urgent need to end preventable deaths of children under five around the world. An anticipated two million people are expected to take action to show they care about all children surviving to the age of five.
  • World Vision is a relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
  • Child Health Now is World Vision’s five-year global campaign calling to end all preventable deaths of children under five. Our campaign is calling on governments, communities and supporters to play their part in a global movement that ensures children have good access to nutritious food, clean water, and life-saving health service.
  • For more information on World Vision’s Global Week of Action go to:http://www.childhealthnow.org/

Media Releases, Child Deaths, Infant mortality, Tim Costello

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