Decades of Progress in Child Survival Threatened, UN Warns
New York, March 25, 2025 – After decades of remarkable progress in reducing child deaths and stillbirths globally, the United Nations is raising serious concerns that these hard-won gains are at risk. In a report released today, the UN warns that various factors, including ongoing conflicts, climate change, and economic instability, are threatening to reverse the positive trends and jeopardize the health and well-being of millions of children worldwide.
A History of Success: Progress in Child Survival
For decades, the international community has focused on improving maternal and child health, leading to significant reductions in child mortality rates. Through investments in essential healthcare services, vaccinations, improved nutrition, and access to clean water and sanitation, the world has made substantial strides in helping children survive and thrive. Specifically, the report highlights progress in:
- Reduced Infant Mortality: The number of babies dying before their first birthday has decreased dramatically.
- Improved Under-Five Mortality: Fewer children are dying before reaching the age of five.
- Lower Stillbirth Rates: Efforts to improve prenatal care and skilled birth attendance have contributed to a decline in the number of babies born stillborn.
Threats on the Horizon: What’s Putting Progress at Risk?
Despite these achievements, the UN report underscores that these gains are fragile and vulnerable to a confluence of challenges:
- Conflicts and Humanitarian Crises: Armed conflicts disrupt healthcare systems, displace populations, and create environments where children are particularly vulnerable to disease, malnutrition, and violence. Access to essential services like vaccinations and prenatal care becomes severely limited in conflict zones.
- Climate Change: The changing climate is contributing to more frequent and intense natural disasters, such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves. These events can disrupt food production, contaminate water sources, and exacerbate poverty, all of which negatively impact child health.
- Economic Instability: Global economic downturns and rising inflation can push families into poverty, limiting their access to nutritious food, healthcare, and other essential resources. This disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including children.
- Weakening Health Systems: Many countries, particularly in low- and middle-income regions, continue to struggle with underfunded and understaffed healthcare systems. This limits their ability to provide quality care to pregnant women and children.
- COVID-19 Pandemic: While the acute phase of the pandemic has subsided, its long-term consequences continue to affect healthcare access, economic stability, and social services, impacting child and maternal health.
Specific Concerns and Vulnerable Populations:
The report identifies specific areas of concern and populations at higher risk:
- Malnutrition: Children in conflict-affected areas and those facing food insecurity due to climate change are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition, which weakens their immune systems and increases their risk of death.
- Infectious Diseases: Disruptions in vaccination campaigns due to conflict and other factors are leading to outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles and polio, threatening child health.
- Maternal Health: Pregnant women in vulnerable populations face limited access to prenatal care, skilled birth attendants, and emergency obstetric services, increasing their risk of complications and death during childbirth, and contributing to higher stillbirth rates.
Call to Action: Protecting and Accelerating Progress
The UN report emphasizes the urgent need for renewed commitment and action to protect the progress made in child survival and accelerate efforts to achieve global targets for reducing child mortality and stillbirths. The report calls for:
- Increased Investment in Healthcare: Governments and international organizations must prioritize investments in strengthening healthcare systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
- Conflict Resolution and Humanitarian Assistance: Addressing conflicts and providing humanitarian aid to affected populations is crucial to protecting children and ensuring their access to essential services.
- Climate Action: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change are essential for creating a healthier and more sustainable future for children.
- Strengthening Social Safety Nets: Implementing social protection programs that provide economic support to vulnerable families can help improve their access to nutritious food, healthcare, and other essential resources.
- Renewed Commitment to Immunization: Ensuring that all children have access to essential vaccines is critical for preventing outbreaks of preventable diseases.
The Future of Child Survival: A Collective Responsibility
The UN’s warning serves as a critical reminder that progress in child survival is not guaranteed. Protecting and accelerating these gains requires a collective effort from governments, international organizations, civil society, and individuals. By prioritizing investments in healthcare, addressing the root causes of conflict and climate change, and strengthening social safety nets, the world can ensure that all children have the opportunity to survive and thrive. The future of child survival depends on our commitment to action today.
Decades of progress in reducing child deaths and stillbirths at risk, UN warns
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At 2025-03-25 12:00, ‘Decades of progress in reducing child deaths and stillbirths at risk, UN warns’ was published according to Women. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner.
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