Significantly fewer children under the age of five die today than around 25 years ago. This is shown by figures from UNICEF and the World Health Organization. The number could be reduced even further.
According to the UN, more people are now surviving the early stages of their lives than ever before. The mortality rate among children under five has fallen significantly worldwide since 2000, said the UNICEF aid agency and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva.
However, in 2022, 4.9 million children would still die before their fifth birthday. Most of these deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
There is a lack of vaccinations and Health workers
The United Nations called for further efforts to combat child mortality. The deaths were primarily due to preventable or treatable causes such as premature birth, complications during delivery, pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria.
Many lives could be saved through high-quality basic medical care, the UN organizations emphasized. There is a lack of vaccinations, qualified health personnel at birth and diagnosis and treatment of childhood diseases.