Children dying from preventable causes, says report

By Ally Jamah and Elizabeth Mwai

Child deaths in Kenya have become a "silent emergency", a report shows.

World Vision President Kevin Jenkins blamed leaders for the rise in child deaths.

"It is politics, not poverty that is killing these children. The politicians have made many promises, but the truth is that saving mothers and children from death is simply not a priority," he said.

However, the report said improved nutrition, family planning and healthcare would reduce the deaths.

"Eighty per cent of maternal deaths could be avoided if women had access to basic maternal health services while 85 per cent of pneumonia can be prevented by early detection and treatment with antibiotics," said the report.

Malnutrition addressed

According to the report, Child Health Now, released by World Vision on Monday at a Nairobi hotel, child death rate is at a high of 79 in 1,000.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga admitted the Government had not risen to the challenge of combating child deaths, but promised appropriate interventions.

"We are boosting food security in the rural areas to address child and mother malnutrition at the root," he said in a speech read on his behalf by Ida Odinga.

Globally, the report shows, 24,000 children die daily from preventable diseases, the equivalent of the entire population of Somalia or Austria being wiped out annually.

Meanwhile, the price of a vital vaccine that immunises against five childhood diseases has dropped by 18 per cent.

Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunes (Gavi) announced price reduction of pentavalent vaccine from Sh273.75 a dose in 2004 to Sh222 next year.

Head of the Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunisation (Kepi), Dr Tatu Kamau, said: "The price drop means the savings accrued will enable Gavi sponsor another almost entire country."

 

 

Read all about: child mortality child deaths medical services health services

 

 

---