Deaths among children aged one month to 5 years old have fallen dramatically in recent decades. But progress in reducing the deaths of newborn babies has been less impressive, with 7,000 newborns still dying every day.
Deaths among children aged one month to 5 years old have fallen dramatically in recent decades. But progress in reducing the deaths of newborn babies – those aged less than one month – has been less impressive, with 7,000 newborns still dying every day. This is partly because newborn deaths are difficult to address with a single drug or intervention – they require a system-wide approach. It is also due to a lack of momentum and global commitment to newborn survival. We are failing the youngest, most vulnerable people on the planet – and with so many millions of lives at stake, time is of the essence.
