Susan Rice lauds India's initiative to ensure child survival

NEW DELHI: US Permanent Representative to United Nations Susan Rice today said more than 7.6 million children die worldwide before reaching their 5th birthday and asked the world community to step up efforts in child survival.

Lauding India's role for taking on the challenge as a co- convener of the 'Call to Action for Child Survival', a global initiative launched jointly by the governments of United States, India and Ethiopia in collaboration with UNICEF on child survival, she hoped the initiative will bear fruit.

Rice was speaking at a reception in the US Embassy where the bust of Eleanor Roosevelt, the former US First Lady, was unveiled by her and US Ambassador to India Nancy J Powell.

The reception was in honour of the 60th anniversary of Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to India and to support the Child Survival Initiative in India.

Seeking support for the Child Survival initiative, Rice said "solutions are often inexpensive and straightforward".

"India deserves the highest praise for taking on the challenge as a co-convener of the Call to Action...United States government is adding an important new partner, local Indian company Pharmasynth Formulations, to its Friends of Childhood Alliance," Rice said.