Decades of progress in reducing child deaths and stillbirths under threat, warns the United Nations
Decades of progress in reducing child deaths and stillbirths are under threat due to global funding cuts, warns the UN. Urgent action is needed to protect millions of vulnerable children.
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| Decades of progress in reducing child deaths and stillbirths under threat, warns the United Nations |
Progress at Risk Due to Global Funding Cuts
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell warned that reduced investments in child health programs could reverse decades of success. Funding cuts are already leading to healthcare worker shortages, clinic closures, and disruptions in vaccination programs."Millions of children are alive today because of interventions like vaccines, nutrition programs, and access to clean water," Russell stated. "But without proper funding, we risk millions more preventable child deaths."
Urgent Need for Continued Investment
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for collaboration to prevent child deaths from malaria, pneumonia, and diarrheal diseases. Similarly, World Bank Global Director Juan Pablo Uribe stressed that investing in children's health is vital for global economic growth.Inequality in Child Mortality Rates
The reports reveal severe disparities in child mortality:Children in sub-Saharan Africa are 18 times more likely to die before age five than those in developed countries.
80% of stillbirths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, with low-income women at eight times higher risk than those in high-income countries.
UN leaders have called on governments, donors, and private partners to safeguard progress and accelerate efforts to provide life-saving healthcare, nutrition, and social protection services.
