“The fact that 5 million children died in 2021 before reaching their fifth birthday is alarming, given the availability of knowledge and actions to prevent these deaths”, estimates this report drawn up by several organizations including UNICEF. , the World Health Organization and the World Bank.

Just under half of these deaths (2.3 million) occur in the very first month, mainly due to prematurity or complications related to childbirth.

After the first month, infectious diseases are the biggest threats, including pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria.

The report denounces these "intolerable" deaths because "largely avoidable" thanks in particular to better care at birth, food supplementation, water sanitation programs and vaccination.

But while the Covid-19 pandemic has hampered vaccination campaigns, two million more children have been deprived of essential vaccines in 2021 compared to 2020, 6 million compared to 2019, recalls the report, which worries consequences of this non-vaccination on future infant mortality.

The organizations nevertheless note some positive signs.

The mortality rate for children under 5 has fallen by 50% since 2000.

That of stillborn babies has also fallen by 35% since the beginning of the century.

In 2021, the number of such stillbirths is estimated at 1.9 million, according to a second report from the same organizations published on Tuesday.

But "a marked slowdown in progress has been recorded since 2010," the agencies note in a statement.

"In the absence of rapid action to improve health services, international organizations predict nearly 59 million deaths of children and young people before 2030, to which will be added some 16 million stillbirths", underline- they.

The report particularly highlights gaping inequalities across the world.

Children in sub-Saharan Africa are thus most at risk of dying before their fifth birthday – this region recorded 56% of deaths of children under the age of 5 in 2021 – ahead of those in South Asia.

“Political will and leadership are essential to ensure sustainable financing of primary health care –- one of the most valuable investments that countries and development partners can make,” said Juan Pablo Uribe in the press release. , from the World Bank.

© 2023 AFP