What will it take to stop the needless deaths of millions of women and children each year?
Williams, P.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 47(5): 249-256
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1440-1754 PMID: 20500439 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2010.01731.xDocument Number: 224065
Each year, almost 10 million children die before their fifth birthday; the majority from easily preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria. Furthermore, 10 million women endure pregnancy-related morbidities annually while 500,000 die in childbirth. The link between maternal and child health is inextricable and worldwide inequities continue to widen: 99% of all neonatal deaths occur in developing countries, while maternal mortality rates are 1,000 times greater for women in poor countries compared to those living in rich nations. These discrepancies continue to persist despite the presence of a multitude of simple, cost-effective interventions which could save the lives of millions of women and children worldwide each year for a fraction of the cost associated spent on health care in the developed world.
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