Despite Declines In Child Mortality, 1M Children Die On First Day Of Life, UNICEF Reports

News outlets report on findings from new UNICEF data showing that although significant declines in child mortality have been achieved since 1990, more than six million children under age five die each year from preventable causes.

BBC News: Surviving childhood in Africa
“A ‘staggering’ number of children around the world are dying before the age of five, according to the United Nation’s child agency. UNICEF’s latest figures estimate every day 17,000 under-fives die — 6.3 million a year — from largely preventable causes…” (Walsh, 9/16).

The Guardian: Almost half of child deaths occur in first month of life, U.N. estimates
“More than six million children under five died last year, mostly from preventable causes and almost half in the first month of life, according to the latest U.N. estimates…” (Ford, 9/16).

New York Times: Despite Declines, Child Mortality and Hunger Persist in Developing Nations, U.N. Reports
“The United Nations on Tuesday reported significant declines in the rates of child mortality and hunger, but said those two scourges of the developing world stubbornly persist in parts of Africa and South Asia despite major health care advances and sharply higher global food production…” (Gladstone/Sangupta, 9/16).

NPR: More Birthdays For Kids Under 5 Around The World
“In 2013, 6.3 million children under the age of five died. That’s a tragic statistic — yet it represents a 49 percent drop from 1990, according to data released Tuesday by the United Nations…” (Klibanoff, 9/16).

U.N. News Centre: U.N. reports one million children die on first day of life from mostly preventable causes
“While child survival rates have increased dramatically since 1990, one million babies each year do not see their second day of life, many succumbing to complications during labor and delivery that could be easily prevented with simple, cost effective interventions, according to a report released today by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)…” (9/16).

UNICEF: Despite dramatic progress on child survival, 1 million children die during their first day of life from mostly preventable causes
“Child survival rates have increased dramatically since 1990, during which time the absolute number of under-five deaths has been slashed in half from 12.7 million to 6.3 million, according to a report released today by UNICEF…” (9/16).

WHO: New data show child mortality rates falling faster than ever
“New data released today by the United Nations show that under-five mortality rates have dropped by 49 percent between 1990 and 2013. The average annual reduction has accelerated — in some countries it has even tripled — but overall progress is still short of meeting the global target of a two-thirds decrease in under-five mortality by 2015…” (9/16).

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