Over four lakh newborns still dying every year within 24 hours of life in India
A child’s birth day could also be the last of her life. A new Save the Children report reveals that over four lakh newborns die within the first 24 hours of life every year in India, the highest anywhere in the world. Globally, two million newborns die within the first 24 hours of birth every year. What makes this news more tragic is the fact that these deaths could be easily prevented. In most cases, the infections and conditions that are the direct causes of death within the first 28 days of a child’s life are preventable and treatable with proven low-cost interventions.
“Every child – no matter where or to whom they are born – has an equal right and deserves an equal chance to survive. And every one of us has a moral responsibility to act, and act now, Thomas Chandy, CEO, Save the Children, said.
Despite a decade of rapid economic growth, India’s record on child mortality at 72 per 1000 live births is worse than that of neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh. Worse, India accounts for one-fifth of newborn deaths. Though the country has made significant progress in reducing child mortality, the newborn mortality rate still stands at a shocking 39 per 1000 births for a month compared to 49 per 1000 in 1992-93.
In the year 2000, 189 Heads of State and governments, including India, made a promise to reduce the under five mortality rate by two-thirds by 2015 (Millennium Development Goal 4) On present trends, India will not meet MDG4 until 2020 – five years after the promised date.
Statistics:
1. Two million children under five years of age die each year in India. This is the highest number anywhere in the world
2. One-third of all malnourished children live in India.
3. 46 per cent of children under three are underweight in India.
4. More than two-thirds of infants die in the very first month. Ninety per cent of these deaths are due to easily preventable causes like pneumonia and diarrhoea.
5. A child’s chances of survival varies enormously simply because she is born in one State rather than the other. For instance, the infant mortality rate in Orissa is 96 per 1000 live births, in Kerala it is only 14 per 1000.
6. Of 68 countries that account for nearly all newborn and child mortality, only 17 countries are on track to meet Millennium Development Goal 4 on reducing child mortality by 2015.
7. India ranks 171 out of 175 countries in the world in public health spending.
8. Low cost interventions could reduce neonatal mortality by up to 70 per cent if provided universally.
For more information, photographs, interviews, please contact Priya Subramanian, Media and Communications Manager, at 9999269395 or email: a.subramanian@savethechildren.in