8.8 million children under the age of five die each year due to preventable illness and disease. Malaria, diarrhea diseases, a lack of access to basic immunizations are the main causes of child deaths
The under-five mortality rate is 270 deaths per 1000 births in Sierra Leone compared to 6 per 1000 in Canada
Child survival is an area of development where inexpensive, proven interventions have had, and continue to have, tremendous impact
2008 marked the first time since statistics have been collected that the number of children who die each year fell below 10 million. In the 1960s, the number of deaths was twice as high
Canada's distribution of vitamin-A supplements, to ward off disease and blindness at a cost of only four cents a dose, has saved the lives of 2.1 million children since 1998
To date, the global immunizations campaign has led to a 68% drop in global measles deaths, saving over two million lives
In Africa, the measles death rate has dropped by 91% since the year 2000
The World Bank estimates that the financial shock and its impact will cause anywhere between 200,000 to 400,000 more children to perish each year between now and 2015. That means a total of 1.4 million to 2.8 million more child deaths if the effects of the crisis are not dealt with.
Progress on MDG 4 (child health) is at 32% and on MDG 5 (maternal health) is at a mere 9%.
