April 03, 2013
Decrease child mortality rates
poverty, birth mortality, children, environment
Another dramatic drop brings zero closer than ever
Over the last 50 years, UNICEF and its partners have helped reduce the worldwide child mortality rate by more than half. Much of that success is recent — the result of tried and true lifesaving interventions and programs perfected in more than 190 countries. Five years ago, 25,500 children died every day from preventable causes. Today that number is 21,000. That means UNICEF has contributed to saving 12,000 more children's lives per day than was the case 20 years ago.
But it also means that 7.6 million children are not reaching their fifth birthday every year. Worse - they are dying of preventable causes and treatable diseases. And the majority of those deaths are concentrated among the poorest 20% of households in the developing world.
Reaching the children most in need.
Half of all global child deaths occur in just 5 countries: India, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan and China.
UNICEF is redoubling efforts to serve those most in need, based on knowledge that for each $1 million investment in a country with high mortality rates can potentially save 60% more deaths.
With enough resources and commitment, UNICEF can reach all these children. At the U.S. Fund for UNICEF we don't stop at 12,000. We stop at ZERO.