The number of infant deaths dropped to 5.2 million in 2019, the lowest point on record, from 12.5 million in 1990, according to data jointly released by the World Health Organization, UNICEF and other organizations. The disruptions, these organizations said, “are putting millions of additional lives at stake.” Disruptions to health services due to the pandemic are putting millions of additional lives at risk worldwide, the United Nations (UN) said, warning that COVID-19 could reverse decades of progress in reducing child mortality.
The past 30 years have seen remarkable strides forward in preventing or treating causes of infant deaths including premature births and pneumonia. New mortality estimates published by the UN’s children’s fund UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank Group found that 2019 saw the lowest number of global under-five deaths on record.
“The global community has come too far towards eliminating preventable child deaths to allow the COVID-19 pandemic to stop us in our tracks,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “When children are denied access to health services because the system is overrun, and when women are afraid to give birth at the hospital for fear of infection, they, too, may become casualties of COVID-19. Without urgent investments to re-start disrupted health systems and services, millions of children under five, especially newborns, could die.”
A WHO survey published in August 2020 based on responses from 105 countries revealed that 52% of countries reported disruptions in health services for sick children and 51% in services for the management of malnutrition. Based on the surveys, the most commonly cited reasons for health service disruptions included parents avoiding health centres for fear of infection; transport restrictions; suspension or closure of services and facilities; fewer healthcare workers due to diversions or fear of infection due to shortages in personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves; and greater financial difficulties.
“Now, we must not let the COVID-19 pandemic turn back remarkable progress for our children and future generations,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “Rather, it’s time to use what we know works to save lives, and keep investing in stronger, resilient health systems.”
