Infectious Diseases Pose Threat To Progress In Child Survival---USAID

 
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for Global Health has said, despite incredible progress in child survival, infectious diseases remain a major cause of under-five deaths.


The agency said, roughly a third of these deaths are caused by pneumonia (17per cent); diarrhea (9per cent); and malaria (7per cent).

The statistics also show that, "over 90per cent of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia."

According to UNICEF, "Since 1990, newborn deaths have reduced by over 1/3. But 2.9m newborns still died in 2012."

USAID stated that, over 99per cent of pneumonia deaths in children occur in developing countries, with 50per cent occurring in 5 nations.

"Seeking care for sick children is important to reduce the spread of these infectious diseases and to decrease child and new born mortality," the agency said.