Jessica Maw, September 18th 2008, 8:20pm
The progression of cutting deaths in children under the age of five is still grossly insufficient states UNICEF. In a current report it has shown that there has been a decrease in deaths among children under five by 28% since 1990. Although the UN has also stated that the poorer countries will not meet the 2015 Millennium Development Goal of cutting their figures by two thirds.
Across the world last year 9.2 million children under the age of five died with the situation being the worst in sub-Sahara Africa and south Asia. Central and eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and East Asia and the Pacific countries have cut deaths among under-fives by over 50% since 1990. The country with the worst under five mortality rate is Sierra Leone where 262 out of 1,000 children do not survive past the age of five.
A report stating the facts has also warned that malnutrition is a contributing factor in a third of child deaths. Also HIV and AIDS have had a significant impact on the death rate among children under the age of five as well. The UNICEF report also states that there is a lack of coverage of treatment for pneumonia and diarrhoea.
To help improve the death rate among the children aged five and under it is recommended that they work to improve sanitation, nutrition, and HIV prevention. Also a better system of keeping and storing data and patient information is suggested.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7610810.stm
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