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Title: COALITION LAUNCHES THE SECOND CHILD SURVIVAL REVOLUTION

Author:

Section/SPIG: International Health

Issue Date:

 
Each day, 30,000 children under-five die. Nearly 99 percent of these deaths occur in the developing world, and most are preventable. Diseases such as diarrhea, measles, pneumonia, malaria and neonatal illnesses – while virtually unknown as causes of death in developed countries – are still the biggest killers, with malnutrition contributing to over half of these deaths. In the 2003 series on child health in The Lancet, child health experts estimated that more than 6 million of the 10 million children under-five who die each year could be saved with basic, cost-effective measures that are already available.

Regrettably, many in the developing world, and especially the poor, still lack access to these basic services, which result in this tragic and needless loss of life. Understanding the need for more resources in child health, the U.S. Coalition and its partners aim to ignite a second "Child Survival Revolution" in 2005. The time has come for the international health community to refocus on the basics and recommit ourselves to the children of the world.

The preventable deaths of millions of children, though largely invisible, is not "new" news. Twenty years ago, the United States and its global partners launched the first "Child Survival Revolution" – a worldwide campaign dedicated to saving the lives of children through simple, cost-effective tools such as vaccines, oral rehydration therapy, antibiotics, and improved breastfeeding practices. This revolution led to more than a 50 percent reduction in under-five mortality since 1960.

Despite this impressive achievement, the momentum generated by the first "child survival revolution" slowed considerably during the 1990s. Competing demands for human and financial resources in the developing world, shifting donor priorities, flagging leadership and commitment to child health, and the impact of HIV/AIDS, have all limited our ability to expand coverage of these proven interventions.

While documenting progress is some regions and countries, the End-Decade Report prepared by UNICEF for the UN Special Session on Children in May 2002 produced some startling findings that resulted in a call for renewed focus and attention on this critical "unfinished agenda." For example, the report found that:


  • Only five out of 55 countries with highest under-five mortality (100 or more) achieved the goal of one-third reduction in child deaths.


  • While some improvements in facility-based treatment of pneumonia and malaria were noted, lack of access to low-cost, effective drugs still contribute to 3 million deaths each year.


  • While exclusive breastfeeding rates (through four months) improved, only 50 percent of mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding.


  • Immunization coverage remained stagnant at 75 percent, and 30 million infants are not reached with routine immunization each year.


  • Deaths occur during the first 28 days of life represent 40 percent of all under-five deaths, yet few programs focus on this group.


These findings, as well as the growing concern about this "unfinished" and neglected agenda for children, resulted in the creation of the U.S. Coalition for Child Survival. The Coalition consists of nearly 180 members and includes corporations, universities, private voluntary organizations, non governmental development assistance organizations, faith-based organizations, foundations and individuals, which are all working together to:


  • Improve understanding and awareness of unmet health needs, effective interventions and resources needed to improve child health and survival.


  • Increase level of U.S. public, private, multi-lateral funding and partnerships for child and maternal health and survival.


  • Advocate and mobilize commitment and action to achieve child survival targets set forth set forth in international agreements including the Millennium Development Goals and the United Nations Special Session on Children.


  • Broaden the membership of the Coalition and establish partnerships with other organizations to strengthen our overall impact and ability to achieve our objectives.


    • The Coalition believes that increased U.S. leadership and funding is absolutely essential to increasing the quality, scale, and impact of child and maternal health programs. Despite the growing needs – and potential impact – of highly cost-effective interventions, U.S. government funding for child survival and maternal health remained virtually stagnant between 1997 and 2003, while the number of women between the ages of 15-24 and the number of children under five increased by 46 million.

    During the coming year, the U.S. Coalition for Child Survival will continue efforts to educate and advocate for increased attention and resources for child and maternal health in developing countries. The International Health Section of APHA is now officially a member of the U.S. Coalition. As a member of the Coalition, you will have access to up-to-date information about child and maternal health, and through our Web site will be linked to other organizations and individuals who share your interest in this issue. We urge you to join us in making this second "Child Survival Revolution" a reality in 2005 by:

    • Sharing your experiences in international public health through the US Coalition for Child Survival’s Speakers Bureau:
      • The U.S. Coalition is recruiting experienced international child health experts to offer expert testimony to congressional committees and policy groups, or introduce new audiences, such as student or community groups, to the importance of child survival programs. To join, please visit <http://www.child-survival.org/bureau.html> and fill out the forms under “How do I join the Speakers Bureau.”

    • Writing an op-ed for your local newspaper:
      • Use such events as World Health Day “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Children” (April 7), or World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7, 2005) as opportunities to share your child health stories from the field in your local newspaper.

    • Using the Coalition’s advocacy packet to educate key policy makers and Members of Congress on the need to make child survival and maternal health an urgent global health priority:
      • Schedule a meeting with key U.S. policymakers and Members of Congress inform them of how child and maternal health programs are extremely under-funded. For reference materials, e-mail <childsurvival@globalhealth.org>.

    • Registering your name on our Web site and receive additional information about how to participate in the “Revolution”:
      • The Coalition is currently trying to build our presence “beyond the Beltway,” so that we can organize events in different regions across the country. By registering your name on our Web site, you will be alerted to other opportunities in your region in which you can participate. Please visit <http://www.child-survival.org/forms/form.html>.

      The good news is that we know what to do. The tragedy is that we have not done more to save these young lives. However, with your help, we can reverse this trend. Become active in the U.S. Coalition for Child Survival today!

      For more information on the U.S. Coalition for Child Survival, visit <www.child-survival.org>.

      --David Oot, Chairman, US Coalition for Child Survival and Director of Health, Save the Children, and APHA IH Section Councilor