Child mortality worldwide: 1.7 million newborns could be saved

Every year, the death of 1.7 million babies could be prevented with proper medical care, according to a UN study. In addition, lifelong complications could be prevented among hundreds of thousands of babies, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund Unicef ​​and other relief organizations reported on Thursday in Geneva.

Especially premature babies can often be saved by simple means the life. These included the

• hygienic supply of the umbilical cord
• Treatment for jaundice, diarrhea and other infections
• temporary supply of oxygen.

Just a few months ago, Unicef ​​announced that 5.4 million children will not be celebrating their fifth birthday in 2017. In addition, there were nearly one million deaths of girls and boys between the ages of five and fifteen during the year. "That's an average of one death every five seconds," UNICEF said. However, the supply was much worse years ago: in 1990, 12.6 million children died worldwide.

In order to develop in-patient treatment for sick or premature babies, about 960 million dollars (845 million euros) are needed annually by 2025, according to the current report. "When it comes to babies and their mothers, having the right care at the right time in the right place can make all the difference," said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Omar Abdi.

About 98 percent of affected babies die in low and middle income countries, especially in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Governments and humanitarian organizations must ensure that every person and every newborn child in need can be hospitalized there, according to the organizations. Among other things, her action plan envisages that 75 percent of all newborns suspected of having severe infections will receive the necessary antibiotics by 2025.

The world community has set itself the goal of ensuring the survival of newborns and infants worldwide by the year 2030. Although there is still a positive trend in reducing child mortality according to Unicef ​​Children's Fund Unicef, progress is progressing far too slowly.