Dhaka, Bangladesh – A recent UNICEF report reveals a 72 percent decrease in the mortality rate for children under the age of 5 in Southern Asia over the past 30 years. Despite this progress, millions of children are still succumbing to preventable causes, emphasizing the ongoing need for interventions and healthcare improvements in the region.
Collaborating with various organizations, the United Nations Children’s Fund underscores the importance of investments in skilled healthcare workers and advancements in neonatal care as key factors leading to the decline in child mortality rates. Additionally, the report emphasizes the significance of providing adequate treatment for childhood illnesses and expanding vaccination coverage to save young lives.
However, UNICEF highlights the urgency of further action, noting that Southern Asia accounted for one-third of all global newborn deaths in 2022. Alarmingly, one in 29 children under the age of 5 continue to perish in the region, ranking it as the second-highest figure worldwide after sub-Saharan Africa, signaling the need for continued efforts to address healthcare disparities across countries in Southern Asia.
According to the report, progress within Southern Asia varies significantly, with countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan requiring immediate attention and intervention to mitigate child mortality rates. UNICEF urges government officials in the region to prioritize investments in fundamental solutions such as ensuring trained healthcare attendants are present during births and enhancing access to clean water and sanitation facilities to improve child health outcomes.
Without swift action, the UN warns of a grim outlook, forecasting that Southern Asia could witness the deaths of an estimated eight million children by 2030 if substantial measures are not taken to address healthcare challenges and enhance access to essential services. This underscores the critical need for immediate and coordinated efforts to safeguard the well-being of children in the region.