The UN IGME, led by UNICEF and including WHO, World Bank Group, and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, released a report showing that the global under-five mortality rate has decreased by 51 per cent since 2000, indicating that more children are surviving now than ever before.
The UN IGME, which is headed by UNICEF and includes WHO, World Bank Group, and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, released a report.
The report, published on Wednesday, revealed that more children are alive now than in the past, with the global under-five mortality rate decreasing by 51 per cent since 2000.
The report mentioned that several low- and lower-middle-income countries have exceeded this decrease, demonstrating that progress is achievable with sufficient allocation of resources to primary health care, including child health and well-being.
The report highlighted that Cambodia, Malawi, Mongolia, and Rwanda have reduced under-five mortality by over 75 per cent since 2000 as an example of this progress.
The findings, however, underscored that despite this improvement, there is still a long way to go to end all preventable child and youth deaths.
The report pointed out that in addition to the 4.9 million lives lost before the age of five, another 2.1 million children and youth aged five to 24 also died, with most of these deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia.
Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF, stated that behind these numbers are stories of midwives, health workers, and community health workers saving lives through their efforts in delivering newborns safely, vaccinating children, and providing health and nutrition support for families.
Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF, mentioned that through decades of commitment by individuals, communities, and nations to reach children with low-cost and effective health services, we've demonstrated that we have the knowledge and tools to save lives.
The report explained that the loss of life is mainly due to preventable or treatable causes, such as preterm birth, birth complications, pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria.
The report highlighted that many lives could have been saved with better access to high-quality primary health care, including essential, low-cost interventions like vaccinations, skilled health personnel, breastfeeding support, and diagnosis and treatment of childhood illnesses.
Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director General, expressed that despite the progress, millions of families still experience the heartbreaking loss of a child, often within days after birth.
Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director General, stressed the need to improve access to quality health services for every woman and child, regardless of where they are born, including during emergencies and in remote areas.
The report emphasized that improving access to quality health services and preventing children's deaths requires investment in education, jobs, and decent working conditions for health workers, including community health workers.
It also mentioned that as trusted members of the community, community health workers have an important role in reaching children and families in every community with life-saving health services such as vaccinations, testing and medicine for deadly but treatable illnesses, and nutrition support.
“This year’s report is an important milestone demonstrating that fewer children die before their fifth birthday,” said the Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population, World Bank & Director, Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents, Dr. Juan Pablo Uribe. “But this is not sufficient. We need to speed up progress with more investments, collaboration, and focus to end preventable child deaths and honor our global commitment. We owe it to all children to ensure they have access to the same health care and opportunities, regardless of where they are born.”
It stated that while the global numbers show encouraging signs of progress, some significant threats and inequalities endanger child survival in many parts of the world.
“The new estimates demonstrate that improving access to high-quality health care, particularly around the time of birth, helps to reduce mortality among children under age 5,” said the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua. “While the milestones in the reduction of child mortality are important to track progress, they should also remind us that further efforts and investments are needed to reduce inequalities and end preventable deaths among newborns, children, and youth worldwide.”
The report further pointed out that at current rates, 59 countries will miss the SDG under-five mortality target, and 64 countries will fall short of the newborn mortality goal. That means an estimated 35 million children will die before reaching their fifth birthday by 2030—a death toll that will largely be borne by families in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia or low- and lower-middle-income countries.
“The report also acknowledges significant gaps in data, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, where the mortality burden is high. Data and statistical systems need to be improved to better track and monitor child survival and health, including indicators on mortality and health through household surveys, birth, and death registration through Health Management Information Systems, and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics,” it concluded.
