Simple interventions can be put in place to cut down on child mortality:
Leading causes of death in children under-5 years are the following:
- Preterm birth complications
- Pneumoniae
- Birth asphyxia
- Congenital anomalies
- Diarrhoea
- Malaria
More than half of these early child deaths are preventable or can be treated with simple, affordable interventions including the following:
- Adequate nutrition
- Immunization
- Safewater and food
- Appropriatecare by a trained health provider when needed
Children in sub-Saharan Africa are more than 15 times more likely to die before the age of 5 than children in high income countries.
Prevention with vaccines
Vaccines are available for some of the deadliest childhood diseases, such as measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, pneumonia due to Haemophilius influenzae type B and Streptococcus pneumonia and diarrhoea due to rotavirus. Vaccines can protect all children from illness and death.
Credit: WHO