Child mortality rates have halved

A new report by the World Health Organisation and Unicef has found that the child mortality rates have halved since 1990. 25 years ago, 12.7 million infants under the age of five died, but the projected figure this year is set to drop below six million for the first time.

Despite the positive figures, aid agencies remain concerned that the UN target of reducing child mortality by two thirds in this 25 year period will not be met.

Unicef’s deputy executive director, Geeta Rao Gupta says,

“…the far too large number of children still dying from preventable causes before their fifth birthday… should impel us to redouble our efforts to do what we know needs to be done”.

The first few days after birth remains the period of greatest risk for infants, with 45% of all deaths occurring before the child is one month old. The report has also highlighted the vast inequalities of life chances for children around the world.

You can read the entire report here.