DrGreene Content
The October 2000 Bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that, while we still have a long way to go, we have made tremendous progress in child mortality over the last 50 years. Today, the probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching 5 years of age is about 7% globally, compared with 10% in 1990 and 25% in 1950! Mortality rates have fallen most dramatically in the eastern Mediterranean, western Pacific, throughout Europe, and throughout the Americas. In stark contrast, childhood mortality rates have stalled -- and even increased -- in areas of Africa and Southeast Asia. The growing childhood AIDS epidemic is the biggest factor in this increase. What joy and pain are reflected in these statistics!
Alan Greene MD FAAP
Originally published: October 23, 2000
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