 |
| Results |
Seven high-mortality countries have already reduced their under-5 mortality rates by two-thirds or more since 1990:
- Bangladesh
- Ethiopia
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Nepal
- Timor-Leste
-
United Republic of Tanzania
|
|
|
Despite the overwhelming odds, Ethiopia has already reduced its under-5 mortality rate by two-thirds, reaching Millennium Development Goal 4 early! The country suffers from a severe shortage of doctors and health professionals ─ with a population of over 80 million, there is one doctor for every 36,000 people. Using innovative programs, like frontline health extension workers in communities, they have achieved an incredible milestone.
Today, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) releases its 2013 progress report Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed. This report details trends in under-5 mortality over the past two decades, analysis or progress toward Millennium Development Goal 4, causes of and interventions against child mortality, and highlights and statistics of the work that has already been done.
Thus far, we’ve reduced child mortality by half, but last year 6.6 million children didn’t live to see their fifth birthday. These deaths were from mostly preventable causes, such as pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria, with about 44 percent of deaths in children under-5 occurring during the neonatal period. We are working with UNICEF and other partners, country governments and faith-based organizations to end preventable child and maternal deaths within a generation.
|
|
