Death sentence for the world’s poorest children

The number of children dying before their fifth birthday dropped to 4.8 million in 2023, a new UN report says.

Stillbirths also declined slightly but remained around 1.9 million, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.

Despite these improvements, progress in child survival is now at risk due to funding cuts by major global donors.

The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that since 2000, child deaths have reduced by more than half worldwide.

Similarly, stillbirths dropped by over a third due to investments in child survival programs, WHO added in its report.

In 2022, global child mortality fell below five million for the first time, but progress is now slowing.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said millions of children survive today due to global commitments to health interventions.

She cited vaccines, nutrition, and access to clean water as key factors responsible for the reduction in child deaths.

“Achieving this record low is remarkable, but without sustained investment, we risk reversing these gains,” Russell warned.

The UN report highlights that reduced funding is causing shortages of healthcare workers and essential medical supplies.

Many child health programs are struggling, with clinic closures and vaccine disruptions now affecting vulnerable regions.

Regions with high child mortality, especially those in humanitarian crises, are worst hit by the funding shortfall.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus said tackling malaria and ensuring newborn care requires consistent financial support.

“With funding declines, we must strengthen collaboration now more than ever to protect children’s health,” he emphasized.

Even before the funding crisis, the progress in child survival had already begun slowing significantly.

Since 2015, the annual reduction in under-five mortality has slowed by 42 per cent, the UN report stated.

Similarly, stillbirth reduction rates have dropped by 53 per cent compared to the 2000–2015 period.

Nearly half of all under-five deaths occur within the first month, mostly due to premature birth and complications.

Beyond infancy, pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhoea remain the leading causes of preventable child deaths worldwide.

Late stillbirths are often caused by maternal infections, prolonged labour, and a lack of timely medical intervention.

The UN says better maternal and child healthcare access at all levels will significantly reduce preventable deaths.

Key interventions include early prenatal care, skilled birth attendance, routine vaccinations, and nutrition programs.

The report also highlights major disparities in child mortality rates between high- and low-income countries.

A child in the highest-mortality country is 80 times more likely to die before age five than in the lowest.

In sub-Saharan Africa, children are 18 times more likely to die before five than those in Australia.

Similarly, 80 per cent of stillbirths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, the report says.

Women in these regions are up to eight times more likely to experience stillbirth than in developed countries.

The UN says reducing these disparities is key to sustainable development and global health equity.

“Every child deserves a fair chance at life,” UN DESA Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua emphasized.

He urged global leaders to ensure no child is left behind in efforts to improve survival rates.

The UN is calling for increased investment, service integration, and innovation to sustain child healthcare progress.

Governments, donors, and private partners must expand access to life-saving healthcare for children and pregnant mothers.

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