Child Mortality Drops

This week, UNICEF released new estimates of under-five mortality and the news is good! From 1990 to 2004, the total number of child deaths decreased from 12.4 million to 8.1 million. This is a reduction of a third. However, the 8.1 million figure is still shocking and unacceptable. Concern is focused on the disparity between countries and classes within these countries.The highest rates of child mortality are coming from sub-Saharan Africa, where rates are at 1 in 8.

When taken apart year by year, the figures show that the rate of decline has picked up in the pack eight years, which bodes well for the achievement of MDG4. The UN MDG is to decrease child mortality by two thirds between 1990 and 2015. These figures show some progress and may spurn nations into action to meet this goal in the next five years. Many experts believe this goal can easily be achieved if states will take action.

-Erica Stetz

SOURCE: UNICEF