Childhood death rate dropping, report finds

BALTIMORE, Md. — World Relief reports that the childhood death rate in the developing world dropped 14 percent in the past decade.

Three million children who would have died had they lived during the 1980s survived childhood during 1990 to 2000. “Reported news from the developing world is so often negative, but we need to remember that progress can be made and is being made,” says Clive Calver, president of World Relief. The new figures were announced April 7, which is World Health Day.

Because of help from churches, individuals and government grants, World Relief's intensive child health programs contributed to this significant increase in child survival rates. The biggest killers of children under the age of 5 in the developing world are pneumonia, diarrheal disease and measles. Because these illnesses are so treatable or preventable, they are not significant killers in the United States. Lack of resources and knowledge make them deadly illnesses in much of the developing world.