The number of children globally who died before their fifth birthday dropped to a record low of 4.9 million in 2022, but that still represents one death every six seconds, according to new United Nations report.
While the mortality rate for under-fives has roughly halved since 2000, the world is still behind in the goal of reducing preventable deaths in that age group by 2030, and progress has slowed since 2015, the report released on Wednesday shows.
The report, released by UNICEF in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, shows that 4.9 million children died before their fifth birthday in 2022, a 51 percent decrease since 2000 and a 62 per cent drop since 1990.
The report also indicates progress in developing countries such as Malawi, Rwanda and Mongolia, where early childhood mortality has fallen by more than 75 per cent since 2000.
“Behind these numbers lie the stories of midwives and skilled health personnel helping mothers safely deliver their newborns… vaccinating… children against deadly diseases, and (making) home visits to support families,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement.
Ms Russell said “through decades of commitment by individuals, communities, and nations to reach children with low-cost, quality, and effective health services, we’ve shown that we have the knowledge and tools to save lives.”
A milestone
Dr Juan Uribe, director for health nutrition and population at the World Bank said this year’s report is an important milestone showing that fewer children die before their fifth birthday.
Dr Uribe noted that this is simply not enough as the world needs to accelerate progress with more investments, collaboration, and focus to end preventable child deaths and honor existing global commitment.
“We owe it to all children to ensure they have access to the same health care and opportunities, regardless of where they are born,” he said.
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua said the new estimates show that strengthening access to high-quality health care, especially around the time of birth, helps to reduce mortality among children under five.
Mr Junhua said, “While the milestones in the reduction of child mortality are important to track progress, they should also remind us that further efforts and investments are needed to reduce inequities and end preventable deaths among newborns, children, and youth worldwide.”
Long road ahead
Despite these gains, the report noted there is still a long way to go to end all preventable child and teen deaths, as millions continue to die from treatable causes, including preterm birth complications, pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria.
The majority of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia, highlighting regional disparities in access to quality healthcare.
The report also noted that economic instability, conflicts, climate change, and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are continuing to undermine progress and exacerbate existing disparities in mortality rates.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said while there has been welcome progress, every year millions of families still suffer the devastating heartbreak of losing a child, often in the very first days after birth.
Dr Ghebreyesus said where a child is born should not dictate whether they live or die.
“It is critical to improve access to quality health services for every woman and child, including during emergencies and in remote areas,” he said.
In order to reach the UN’s goal of reducing under-five deaths to 25 per 1,000 births by 2030, 59 countries will need urgent investment in children’s health, researchers warned.
And without adequate funding, 64 countries will miss the goal of limiting first-month deaths to 12 per 1,000 births.
“These are not just numbers on a page; they represent real lives cut short,” the report said.