Government
200 million children younger than 5 worldwide lack basic health care
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 19, 2008
Save the Children, a global humanitarian organization, announced on May 1 that more than 200 million children under age 5 around the world lack basic health care.
The estimate is from the group's ninth annual "State of the World's Mothers" report, which defines basic health care as prenatal care, skilled care at childbirth, immunizations, and treatment for diarrhea and pneumonia.
The report also ranked 55 developing nations in terms of providing basic care to children under age 5, placing the Philippines first and Ethiopia last. More than 80% of Ethiopian children do not receive basic lifesaving care. The report recommends a global effort to provide more community health workers to the poorest, most marginalized countries.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/05/19/gvbf0519.htm.