India accounts for highest newborn deaths: UNICEF
More than one in five children who die within four weeks of birth is an Indian despite improvements in child mortality rates worldwide, the United Nations Children's Fund said on Tuesday.
By Agencies |
NEW DELHI: More than one in five children who die within four weeks of birth is an Indian despite improvements in child mortality rates worldwide, the United Nations Children's Fund said on Tuesday.
Globally, the number of children who die before their fifth birthday has dropped to a historic low of 9.7 million annually, UNICEF said.
South Asia accounts for 3.1 million and India for 2.1 million of these deaths, UNICEF said in its annual "State of the World's Children" report.
Nearly fifty per cent of Indian children who die before the age of five do not survive beyond the first 28 days, the agency said.
"India has the single highest share of neonatal deaths in the world," UNICEF's India representative, Gianni Murzi told a news conference.
Worldwide, neonatal deaths or those of children under four weeks make up 37 per cent of under five deaths, the agency said, emphasising the need to check newborn deaths.
"There is a huge number of neonatal deaths. Breastfeeding alone can reduce India's mortality rate by a few points," Murzi said.
India will have to drastically improve the rate at which it is reducing under five mortality from the current annual rate of 2.6 per cent to 7.6 per cent over the next nine years to achieve key UN goals by 2015, UNICEF said.
Globally, the number of children who die before their fifth birthday has dropped to a historic low of 9.7 million annually, UNICEF said.
South Asia accounts for 3.1 million and India for 2.1 million of these deaths, UNICEF said in its annual "State of the World's Children" report.
Nearly fifty per cent of Indian children who die before the age of five do not survive beyond the first 28 days, the agency said.
"India has the single highest share of neonatal deaths in the world," UNICEF's India representative, Gianni Murzi told a news conference.
Worldwide, neonatal deaths or those of children under four weeks make up 37 per cent of under five deaths, the agency said, emphasising the need to check newborn deaths.
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"There is a huge number of neonatal deaths. Breastfeeding alone can reduce India's mortality rate by a few points," Murzi said.
India will have to drastically improve the rate at which it is reducing under five mortality from the current annual rate of 2.6 per cent to 7.6 per cent over the next nine years to achieve key UN goals by 2015, UNICEF said.
The UN aims to cut child mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015, to fewer than 5 million deaths per year.
"A substantial strengthening of the health system is needed," Murzi said.
While around 25 per cent children globally were underweight, in India the number was 43 per cent.
The Indian government said the numbers though not surprising; were a "big shock."
"We are extremely worried about malnutrition," said Loveleen Kacker, a senior official from the women and child development ministry, adding the government will scale up funding to boost nutrition.
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