UNICEF ANNOUNCES WORLDWIDE DECREASE IN CHILD MORTALITY

September 14, 2007

UNICEF announced yesterday that the world has made progress in decreasing the number of child mortality.  Figures show that in 19-90 thirteen million children five years and younger died, compared to this year to nine point seven million.  However in Belize much still needs to be done.  The under-five mortality rate in Belize for the year 2006 is just below the average among Latin American and Caribbean countries.  Belize stands good when compared with Central American countries but that is not the case when compared to Caribbean Countries.  The two southern most districts of Stan Creek and Toledo have ratios higher than the country average.  Based on these figures the Ministry of Health is strengthening its key interventions to reduce the rate of deaths.  This includes the reintroduction of the baby friendly hospital initiative to increase the number of exclusively breast fed children, the implementation of the integrated management of childhood illnesses, growth promotion at the community level and access to micronutrients supplementation to reduce malnutrition among children, programs to increase the number of babies delivered by skilled birth attendants, programs to reduce vertical transmission of HIV, and routine access by children and other target population to different vaccines. In Belize the leading causes of death continue to be premature birth, congenital abnormalities, acute respiratory infections, traffic accidents, and injuries.   

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