Good News on Child Mortality

Good news from UNICEF: the global mortality rate for children under 5 has dropped below 9 million after decreasing steadily for two decades. According to the New York Times, that's the first time on record the rate has dipped that low.

Though this might not seem like good news – 8.8 million children under 5 dying every year isn't exactly something to sing about – child mortality has decreased in every part of the world. Such progress is a major success in global efforts to improve life in developing countries.

A particular success story, Malawi, is now on track to reduce its under-5 mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015, a key Millennium Development Goal. It has done so with simple measures such as vaccinations, distribution of mosquito nets, and application of deworming medicines and vitamin A supplements. Encouragement of breast feeding is another key method of improving child health. The leading causes of child mortality — pneumonia and diarrhea — still need more attention, as they have been overshadowed by efforts to eradicate malaria and measles.

Further strong action will be necessary to bring the worldwide child mortality levels down. UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said that, “Achieving the Millennium Development Goal target of a two-thirds reduction in under-five mortality by 2015 will require a strong sense of urgency with targeted resources for greater progress,” according to the press release.

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