6,000,000 children die needlessly every year
More than six million children under five die unnecessarily each year worldwide, according to experts. They die of diseases that can be prevented or treated. These include AIDS, diarrhea, malaria, measles and pneumonia. Overall, 10 million children die each year before the five yearsold. Most deaths occur in only six countries, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. In a series of articles in The Lancet, experts say more money and better public health policies could prevent two of the three child deaths.Millions of people die figures show that more than four million children die before reaching the age of one month, mainly because of problems at birth. Four million children die from diarrhea or pneumonia. Malaria causes one million
deaths, while HIV claims 300,000 lives per year. At least 100,000 children die of measles. Four million deaths occur in Africa south of Sahara, while another only 2.4 million will be manufactured in India. Sierra Leone has the highest rate of child mortality in the world, with 316 of 1,000 children die before their fifth birthday.The researchers said that a number of simple measures could prevent most of these deaths. They suggested that to encourage new mothers to breastfeed their children could save 1.3 million lives each year. Breast milk can protect infants against diarrhea and pneumonia, stimulating their immune system. Encourage mothers to start giving their children food and breast milk at six months could save 600,000 lives. The researchers said this could help
children fight against diarrhea, pneumonia, measles and malaria.Other 326 000 deaths from diarrhea could be prevented if everyone had access to clean water and better hygiene. The researchers said that spraying insecticides could contribute to 700,000 lives, while protecting against mosquitoes, responsible for rescuing the spread of malaria. Key saving vaccination against measles vaccine and Haemophilus influenzae
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