The World Health Organization leaves us ten facts about the health of children in the world, figures that lead us to awareness and reflection.
Well, even if they are data that mainly affect developing countries, they are often produced in disadvantaged environments of countries of the so-called "first world" and, in any case, it is in the hands of our privileged world to favor that these figures fall .
Every year about 10 million children under five die and most of them could survive and grow if they had access to simple and economic interventions. Most cases of diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia or AIDS, which continue to cause infant deaths, could be avoided.
Care during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as neonatal careThey are also essential in communities with few resources to avoid so many deaths, especially the most fragile, newborns.
AdvertisingThe risk of death is higher in the first month of life, in which safe childbirth and effective neonatal care are essential. The majority of infant deaths are due to premature births, asphyxiation of childbirth and infections. Between the month and five years, the main causes of death are pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, measles and HIV infection. Malnutrition contributes to more than half of deaths.
The life of the newborn is fragile. Approximately 4 million children die each year before their first birthday. The health hazards of newborns can be reduced by: quality care during pregnancy; a safe delivery attended by skilled midwifery assistants; and good neonatal care: immediate attention to breathing and heat, hygienic manipulation of the umbilical cord and skin, and exclusively breastfeeding.
Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children under five years. Of the 154 million cases that occur each year, about 75% are recorded in only 15 countries. In order to prevent pneumonia, vaccination and combating the main risk factors are essential, particularly malnutrition and air pollution. Antibiotics and oxygen are essential for treatment.
The diarrheal diseases They are one of the leading causes of illness and death in children in developing countries. Breastfeeding exclusively helps prevent diarrhea in young children. Treatment with oral rehydration salts and zinc supplements is safe, cost-effective and can save your life. Thanks to oral rehydration salts, the lives of more than 50 million children have been saved in the last 25 years.
An African child dies every 30 seconds due to malaria, which is the leading cause of death of children under five in the African Region. Mosquito nets treated with insecticides prevent transmission and increase children's survival. Fast antimalarial treatment also saves lives.
More than 90% of HIV-infected children acquire mother-to-child transmission infection, which is preventable with the use of antiretrovirals and with safe obstetric and food practices. It is estimated that there are 2.3 million children under 15 infected, and another 1,400 are infected every day. In the absence of treatment, more than half of infected children die before their second birthday. Antiretroviral treatment greatly improves the survival and quality of life of infected children.
Around the world there are near 20 million children under five with severe malnutrition, which makes them more vulnerable to disease and death. About three quarters of these children can be treated with "ready-to-eat therapeutic foods." These highly enriched and energetic foods provide enough nutrients so that malnourished children over six months can be treated at home; They also do not need refrigeration and can be consumed even in the absence of ideal hygienic conditions.
The child survival rate has large geographical variations. Three quarters of child deaths are recorded in Africa and Southeast Asia. In different countries, mortality is higher in rural areas and in the poorest families with a lower educational level.
Child health is improving, but there are still major obstacles to achieving the goal of reducing global mortality, despite the fact that approximately two thirds of child deaths are preventable if there is access to low-cost practical interventions and effective primary care up to five year old. To improve access to care and prevention, stronger health systems are essential.
The increase in investment is key to achieving goal 5 of the Fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG): "Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the mortality of children under five years of age." To achieve this ambitious, but achievable goal, it is necessary that public and private partners cover the existing financial deficit of approximately $ 50 billion. The creation of the International Health Alliance, the Global Campaign for Health-related MDGs and the announcement in recent months of several large funding promises from bilateral donors represent important steps in the right direction.
We have just seen it in the ninth point: little by little the numbers of infant deaths are decreasing in the world, but there is still much work to be done. Something as seemingly simple as the support groups help this goal that WHO is fighting, among other organizations.
What are the achievements of WHO? The improvement of children's health in the world It is achieved by helping countries provide effective health care ranging from healthy pregnancy to childbirth and child care up to five years. Although, as the last cited data points out, a large investment in solid health systems is needed, which entails training and care. A long way to go.
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