More UN children live to age 5

Most children around the world live to five years of age, but 6.3 million died last year from preventable causes, the U.N. children’s agency reported Tuesday.
Children’s death rates have been cut in half since 1990, but the world has yet to meet its goal of a two-thirds decrease in child mortality by next year, the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said.
“We’re building momentum in many countries in the poorest parts of the world,â€‌ UNICEF head of global programs Dr. Mickey Chopra told The Associated Press (AP).
The world’s highest rate of child mortality was in Angola, with 167 deaths each 1,000 births. India and Nigeria’s large populations accounted for a third of all deaths. Meanwhile, the United States only accounts for 7 deaths in every 1,000 live births.
The report said that a country’s economic status does not mean it cannot progress. In fact eight of the 60 countries with high children mortality reduced their rates by two thirds since 1990, including Malawi, Bangladesh, Liberia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, East Timor, Niger, and Eriteria.
There were 200,000 fewer deaths in 2013 than 2012, but pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria continue to account for a third of all deaths under the age of five.
“It is very, very easy to prevent those three diseases from killing kids,â€‌ Chopra said. “An antibiotic is 10, 20 cents, and that saves the life basically.â€‌
Newborns in their first months make up 44 percent of deaths.
The report found that vaccinating children, having skilled health workers, mothers giving birth in hospitals or birthing clinics, improved sanitation, clean water, and better roads will help decrease the child mortality rate.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that it is important to educate girls, increase women’s participation in politics, and provide employment opportunities for women.
“They can get a job and earn, and have the resources to assure the health of themselves and their families,â€‌ WHO Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health lead researcher Shyama Kuruvilla said.