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HEALTH

The new report estimates that one dia in 2017, while the number of deaths Division and the World Bank Group. A
child under 15 years dies every five among children aged 5-14 was 1,52,000. vast majority of these deaths — 5.4 mil-
seconds around the world but India’s “India continues to show impressive lion -- occur in the first five years of life,
share of global child deaths, for the decline in child deaths, with its share with newborns accounting for around
first time, equals its share in the global of global under-five deaths for the half of the deaths. “Without urgent ac-
birth cohort. India accounts for 18 per first time equalling its share of child- tion, 56 million children under five
cent of global births, and now also 18 births,” Yasmin Ali Haque, Representa- will die from now until 2030 — half of
per cent of global child deaths follow- tive, UNICEF India, said. “The efforts for them newborns,” said Laurence Chandy,
ing a decline from 22 per cent in 2012. improving institutional delivery, along UNICEF Director of Data, Research and
Last year, a report on the pneu - with countrywide scale up of special Policy. “We have made remarkable pro-
monia and diarrhoea situation of the newborn care units and strengthening gress to save children since 1990, but
world — it was brought out by the of routine immunisation, have been millions are still dying because of who
International Vaccine Access Center, instrumental towards this.” they are and where they are born. With
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School The number of infant deaths has simple solutions like medicines, clean
of Public Health — had praised on come down from 8.67 lakh in 2016 to water, electricity and vaccines, we can
Mission Indradhanush for bringing 8.02 lakh in 2017. In 2016, India’s infant change that reality for every child.”
down the incidence of the two biggest mortality rate was 44 per 1,000 live Globally, in 2017, half of all deaths
killers of children below the age of births. In 2017, sex-specific under-five under five years of age took place in
five. In its first four phases, Mission mortality rate was 39 in 1,000 live births sub-Saharan Africa, and another 30 per
Indradhanush vaccinated about 25 cent in Southern Asia. In sub-Saharan
million children in over 500 districts, Africa, 1 in 13 children died before their
On an average, three infants cohort, and the four-point reduction About 6,05,000 that number was 1 in 185. “Millions of
fifth birthday. In high-income countries,
the report estimated.
India has the world’s largest birth
neonatal deaths
babies and children should not still be
die every two minutes in India in Infant Mortality Rate has led to were reported dying every year from lack of access to
water, sanitation, proper nutrition or
120,000 lives saved in one year. Anoth-
in India in 2017,
basic health services,” said Princess
er first for India is that its proportion
of child deaths equals its share of the
eral for Family, Women and Children’s
global births, with India accounting while the number Nono Simelela, Assistant Director-Gen-
for 18 per cent of the total births and 18 of deaths among Health at WHO. “We must prioritise pro-
Lack of access to water, sanitation, proper nutrition and basic health services, according to a per cent of U-5MR deaths worldwide. viding universal access to quality health
UN body, continue to be blamed for 18 per cent of global child deaths following a steady decline Just three years ago, more than one children aged services for every child, particularly
from 22 per cent in 2012, reports TEHELKA BUREAU million children died before reaching 5-14 was 1,52,000, around the time of birth and through
their fifth birthday from preventable the early years, to give them the best
and treatable causes, such as preterm according to the new possible chance to survive and thrive.”
hree infants die every two has reduced significantly given that the number of infant deaths has come birth complications, acute respiratory UNIGME report The sharp decadal increase in insti-
minutes on an average in the difference was nearly 10 per cent in down. It is lowest in five years. This infections such as pneumonia, intra- tutional deliveries in public and private
India due to lack of access 2012. Globally, girl child survival rates is also the first time that the number partum-related complications, con- hospitals, up from 38.7 per cent in 2006
to water, sanitation, proper are 11 per cent higher than boys. of deaths under five is equal to num- genital anomalies and diarrhoea. to 78.9 per cent in 2016, has lowered
T nutrition or basic health This is in line with government ber of births. The next step would be Neonatal deaths, or newborn for male and 40 in 1,000 live births for birth-related complications and helped
services. According to a report by the data which show that in sick newborn reducing the number of deaths,” said deaths within 28 days of birth, be - females. “Even more heartening is the India eliminate maternal and neonatal
United Nations Inter-agency Group for care units across the country, there is a Dr Gagan Gupta, Chief of Health at the cause of pregnancy-related compli- fourfold decline in the gender gap in tetanus. But more needs to be done. It is
Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME), 60:40 ratio of boys and girls admitted. World Health Organization. “About 18 cations, accounted for 53 per cent of survival of the girl child over the last imperative to widen the immunisation
about 8,02,000 infant deaths were The Ministry of Health and Family Wel- per cent of children born globally are all under-five deaths in 2016. Many of five years,” Haque said. “The investment net so that all children are protected
reported in India in 2017. The number is fare has also flagged this issue to states from India.” these newborns and children could on ensuring holistic nutrition under the against vaccine-preventable diseas-
reported to be the lowest in five years. but it has not borne results. This year’s Following initiatives like Mission have been saved by increasing institu- POSHAN campaign and national com- es, such as diarrhoea and childhood
However, the infant death numbers, as Economic Survey estimated that 21 mil- Indradhanush, Mother and Child Track- tional deliveries, postnatal follow-ups, mitment to make India open defeca- pneumonia. Boosting breastfeeding is
per the report, still remained the high- lion Indian girls are unwanted — par- ing System and neonatal ICUs in every improving mother and child nutrition, tion-free by 2019 are steps that will help another low-resource method to
est in the world, followed by China at ents wanted a boy but had a girl instead. district, India has made remarkable and providing water, sanitation and in accelerating progress further.” heighten childhood immunity and low-
3,30,000. Experts somehow believe that India progress over the last five years. The immunisations. Only one in five new According to the report, an estimated er risk of infections. Only 41.6 per cent
The under-five mortality of the girl is making good progress in combat- number of Indian children who died mothers in India get the full antenatal 6.3 million children aged below 15 died of children under the age of three were
child is 2.5 per cent higher (40 deaths ing infant deaths through a number before their fifth birthday went below care, shows National Family Health in 2017, or 1 every 5 seconds, mostly of breastfed within one hour of birth in
per 1,000 live births) than the under- of government initiatives. “It has to be one million for the first time. But at Survey 2016. preventable causes, according to new 2015, up from 23.4 per cent in 2005.
five mortality of the boy child (39 deaths taken into consideration that India has 9,89,000, the absolute number is still The UNIGME report said 6,05,000 mortality estimates released by UNICEF,
per 1,000 live births). This gender gap a birth rate of 25 million every year and staggering. neonatal deaths were reported in In- WHO, the United Nations Population LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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