Latest progress

It is difficult to think of something more tragic than the death of a child.  Thankfully, the progress made to reduce child mortality means there are less personal tragedies than before the MDGs were set [1].

One of the major reasons for this improvement is the provision of vaccination programmes.  On the 100^th International Women’s day, the Global Alliance for Vaccinations and Immunisations (GAVI) celebrated the increased coverage rates of immunisations.  In many countries the first contact with a hospital is at the birth of a child, so as they take their children in for post-natal vaccinations, mothers have been able to take advantage of healthcare at the same time. A healthy mother helps their healthy child to survive through the vulnerable first few years of life [2].

In late 2010 a truly significant announcement was made and with it, the battle against child mortality took a great stride forward.  The number one killer of children, pneumonia, is to be vaccinated against globally.  The global vaccination program, introduced in Nicaragua, protects against the deadliest strains of pneumonia and has been rolled out just a year after introduction in the richer nations – a much shorter time delay than has historically been the case [3].

The focus for GAVI is to ensure this programme is successful and to tackle diarrhoea, another of the major killers of children globally. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also set out its 2011-2015 strategies for its global work in reducing child mortality.  They are: treating complications in newborns, providing appropriate home care, expanding immunisation programmes and feeding infants and children [4].

A nations health is generally most affected by changes in national governmental policy however.  In South Africa, where once there was a culture of AIDS denialism, now the healthcare policies are described as ‘phenomenal’ and ‘world-class’ [5].  This same news group that praises the government also criticizes the ‘resource-led approach’ of healthcare provision, rather than a demand-based approach. A ‘resource-led’ approach means people with access to well-equipped hospitals get even better healthcare. However, children in marginalised areas are not reached, despite the demand, which civil society and NGOs cannot meet.  Poor roads and expensive transport exacerbate the difficulties in receiving healthcare, even down to simple, but vital administration tasks such as getting a birth certificate.

It is good news that parents across the globe are filing for birth certificates.  The better news is that more and more parents are finding that this need not be immediately followed by a death certificate.

[1] MDG 4 Targets and Indicators

[2] GAVI article on Rwanda

[3] GAVI article on Nicaragua

[4] WHO website

[5] Health-e news website from South Africa