Child Health In A Developing Country

Submitted by: Tahmina Sultan

As far as child heath is concerned, the present scenario of developing countries around the world is not very pleasant. Data shows, that every second a child in a developing country suffers from malnutrition, and almost 60,000 children are born with HIV every year. In some countries, even basic health care facility and health assurance seem to be a dream for majority of the population. It has been observed that children under the age of five face multiple obstacles, which include birth injuries, infectious diseases, malnutrition, home environment that lack intellectual stimulation, and an environment with polluted water and air. Neonatal mortality has persisted and currently 4 million deaths occur during the first month of birth.

A child’s health primarily depends on the health condition of his or her mother. Nutrition intake during pregnancy, birth environment, and the overall health status of the mother influence the health of the child prior to, during and after birth. Mainly due to these factors, around 3 million infants are stillborn each year. Even though, globally, the rate of child death has reduced, there has been an uneven growth as well; child mortality rates either remain constant or increase across at least 17 developing countries. Some parts of Africa and Asia have improved in this regard but some countries still lag behind in lowering child deaths.

About 3.6 million newborns die in the first month of birth during the neonatal period. The number of newborn deaths is approximately equivalent to the number of children born annually in the U.S. or in most of the developed countries of Europe. Neonatal deaths in developing countries comprise 41% of all child deaths in the world, among which more than half of neonatal deaths occur in countries like China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and India. Primary reason behind these deaths are pneumonia, tetanus, malaria, measles, HIV/AIDS, diarrhea, birth asphyxia, prematurity and low birth weight, congenital conditions and malnutrition. Reports show that 16% of children are born with a low birth weight each year. One in four of 600 million children in the world, under the age of five having a risk of death, live in a developing country, which is 20 times higher than in the U.S. Furthermore, millions of children suffer from diseases due to weakness, malnutrition and injuries that influence their well-being and options in life, like education and future economic prospects.

Around 6 million child deaths

can be prevented every year, if inexpensive health interventions are provided to the mothers and children in need. Healthy and well-educated children contribute to the society, its economic growth and civil strength of a nation. So, it is necessary to provide every child with an environment and health care facility that would secure a better future for them and the society at large.

Governments of developing countries and some nonprofit organizations have taken the first step to make the necessary investments on childcare. However, such programs are vastly underfunded, limiting the services and materials required to provide these children with everything they need. Some highly effective and simple solutions provided by nonprofit organizations are helping to improve the condition of children living in developing countries to a significant level. These nonprofit organizations mainly target child health care by focusing on areas like nutrition, maternal health, gender empowerment for girls, infectious diseases education and environmental stability.

About the Author: Tahmina Sultan Touching Souls International

touchingsoulsintl.org

http://touchingsoulsintl.org/blog Touching Souls International(TSI) is a New York based non profit organization providing charity in health, education and safe environment for economically disadvantaged of Bangladesh. It conducts regular eye camps and selects patients for free cataract removal surgery, cleft lip surgery, club foot surgery, artificial limb, palliative care, maternal health and child health.

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