| Last update: Nov 2007 |
Low-cost interventions could save millions of lives
Just five diseases -- pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, measles and AIDS -- account for half of all deaths in children under five. Most of these lives could be saved by expanding low-cost prevention and treatment measures. These include antibiotics for acute respiratory infections, oral rehydration for diarrhoea, immunization, and the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and appropriate drugs for malaria. Ensuring proper nutrition is part of prevention, because malnutrition increases the risk of dying from these diseases.
Recent data show encouraging progress in some interventions which have a known impact on reducing under-five mortality. These include early and exclusive breast feeding, measles immunization, Vitamin A supplementation and the use of insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria.
There has been unprecedented support for global health, with increased funding and expanding partnerships with governments, the private sector, international foundations and civil society.
But if current trends continue and the goal is not achieved, an additional 4.3 million child deaths could occur in 2015 alone.
Some gains undermined by spread of HIV and AIDS
The highest rates of child mortality are still found in West and Central African countries. In southern Africa hard-won gains in child survival have been undermined by the spread of HIV and AIDS.
The benefits of reaching MDG 4, reducing child mortality, are enormous. If the target of reducing by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate is achieved, the deaths of 5.4 million children under five will be averted in the year 2015 (as compared to the situation in 2005).
Source for figures: UNICEF estimates based on the work of the Inter-agency Child Mortality Estimation Group. Disparity analysis based on household survey data (MICS and DHS) collected in 63 developing countries during 2000-2006. Under-five mortality by cause: Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group (CHERG).