One million babies die on the day of their birth

Millions of children die before their fifth birthday

02/25/2014

Around one million newborns will not survive their first and only day of life, according to the sobering result of a recent report by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Save the Children. Nearly three million children died in 2012 within 28 days of their birth and 6.6 million before their fifth birthday, reports the charity. „There are still 18,000 children dying every day“, so the current release of Save the Children.

It is true „the number of children who die annually before the age of five, since 1990, from 12.6 million to 6.6 million“ Decreased in 2012, but could save about two million more newborns annually, „if we eliminate preventable causes of death in newborns“, Save the Children reported on presentation of the report „Ending Newborn Deaths“ in London. The report shows that the problem of neonatal mortality is still greater than expected. In 2012, there were about 1.2 million stillbirths, caused by cardiac arrest during labor. Another one million newborns did not survive their first day of life. Accordingly, 2.2 million deaths occurred during labor and the first 24 hours after birth. Nearly three million children do not survive more than four weeks and 6.6 million children died in 2012 before their fifth birthday. It was the „Mortality rate in Africa four times higher than in Europe“, reports the NGO.

Deaths from premature birth, birth complications and infections
The aid organization also mentions the most common causes of childhood deaths in its report. Here are above all „Prematurity, complications during childbirth and infections“ to mention Save the Children. „What needs to be done to combat these causes, we know“, the NGO continues. For example, many newborn deaths were caused by one „sustainable health care in the most risky time during labor, delivery and right after birth“ prevent. Therefore, well-trained and equipped obstetricians should be at their side without restriction for every woman at and immediately after birth, said Save the Children.

Professional obstetrics could significantly reduce the number of deaths
According to the experts, professional obstetrics helped prevent 45 percent of deaths during labor and 43 percent of neonatal deaths. Even today, too many babies die because mothers do not receive professional help during labor and childbirth. This concerns above all „Women who live in rural areas, who are among the poorest ethnic or ethnic minorities and who have inadequate education“, reports Save the Children. In many countries „It's twice as likely that the poorest families will lose a baby than the richest.“ The relief organization evaluated the situation as „terrible and unacceptable.“ Unless the issue of neonatal deaths is addressed urgently, there is a risk that progress in reducing child mortality will stall. Thus, in the current report compared to the previous year, no significant improvement was seen more.

Fairer distribution of health services required
Save the Children concludes that „Substantial reforms are needed to enable the poorest populations and those living in hard-to-reach areas to get access to professional health care at birth.“ This also includes the costs of health care for mothers, newborns and children. The health care must be freely accessible to them and there should be enough health workers, the NGO demands. By a „fairer distribution of basic health services in 47 countries“ could reduce the number of deaths in babies by 950,000, which is equivalent to a „Reduction of neonatal mortality rate in these countries by 38 percent“ be. Kathrin Wieland, Managing Director of Save the Children Germany, stressed that „the first day in a child's life the most dangerous“ is and „ 40 million women give birth to their children without professional guidance on the floor of their home or even in the open air.“ Often this ends up in a tragedy. Through trained health workers many of these redundant deaths could be avoided and „We have to start with that because every child has a right to life“, explained Wieland.

Save the Children further reports that one „Increasing health expenditure to 3.70 euros per person per year preventing the death of 147 million children, five million women and 32 million stillbirths“ could. It would be the „economic and social benefits up to nine times higher than investment by 2035, the aid organization said in its latest press release. (Fp)

Image: Dieter Schütz