250,000 children under five die each year from preventable diseases
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Some 250,000 children under five die every year in the country, mostly from diseases and causes that can be easily prevented. Malnutrition is an important underlying factor behind the deaths, reports UNB.
This was disclosed at the launching of "Every One", a 5-year worldwide campaign of the Save the Children, held in the city Saturday.
The campaign is being jointly conducted globally by the international NGOs: Save the Children-UK, Save the Children- Australia, Save the Children-US and Save the Children- Sweden- Denmark.
The 'Every One' campaign will provide a common platform for all agencies working on MDG 4 interact, contribute and speak out to save children's lives.
Save the Children- US Country Director Kelland Stevenson said that Children died from infections, complications in the newborn period and other direct causes, with malnutrition as an important underlying factor.
"These conditions can be treated and prevented with simple and low cost solutions such as exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, community-based diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia and home visits and other special care for newborns."
Stevenson, however, said Bangladesh is on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)- 4 that calls for a two-thirds reduction in child mortality by 2015.
Couple of presentations was made at the launching ceremony.
The presentations noted that Bangladesh has made considerable progress in reducing child and maternal mortality rates, but the number of child deaths is still quite high.
Between now and 2015, Save the Children will work with the government and other partners to implement lifesaving programmes that will directly help the country's 10 million children survive, grow and develop.
Sumon Sengupta, Country Director of Save the Children-UK, said that Saving children's life should be a national priority since 250,000 children are dying from preventable causes."
This was disclosed at the launching of "Every One", a 5-year worldwide campaign of the Save the Children, held in the city Saturday.
The campaign is being jointly conducted globally by the international NGOs: Save the Children-UK, Save the Children- Australia, Save the Children-US and Save the Children- Sweden- Denmark.
The 'Every One' campaign will provide a common platform for all agencies working on MDG 4 interact, contribute and speak out to save children's lives.
Save the Children- US Country Director Kelland Stevenson said that Children died from infections, complications in the newborn period and other direct causes, with malnutrition as an important underlying factor.
"These conditions can be treated and prevented with simple and low cost solutions such as exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, community-based diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia and home visits and other special care for newborns."
Stevenson, however, said Bangladesh is on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)- 4 that calls for a two-thirds reduction in child mortality by 2015.
Couple of presentations was made at the launching ceremony.
The presentations noted that Bangladesh has made considerable progress in reducing child and maternal mortality rates, but the number of child deaths is still quite high.
Between now and 2015, Save the Children will work with the government and other partners to implement lifesaving programmes that will directly help the country's 10 million children survive, grow and develop.
Sumon Sengupta, Country Director of Save the Children-UK, said that Saving children's life should be a national priority since 250,000 children are dying from preventable causes."