9.2 million children under 5 die every single year from preventable causes

The World Health Organization’s Millennium Development Goal (MDG 4) is intent on reducing the 1990 mortality rate among children under five years of age by two-thirds. Over 9 million children under the age of five die every year, and the tragedy is that many of the causes of such deaths are preventable. The issue is because these deaths are occurring in developing countries and unlike in the first world, where these diseases could be prevented (antibiotics, greater hygiene, and clean water) the location of such children renders those measures unavailable. Over a billion children lack at least one of the essential goods or services needed for survival and to stave off poverty (nutrition, water, sanitation, basic healthcare, shelter and education).

Most of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia with pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria and measles accounting for almost half of their deaths. HIV/AIDS (3%) and neonatal complications/infections (37%) constitute the remaining fatalities. Countermeasures to these deaths include the spread of adequate healthcare facilities and clean water, fundamental requirements vital to survival. Other education services, such as spreading knowledge of contraception and vaccinations are also significant steps in preventing such easily remedied tragedies we avoid in the West.

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