Many children in rural sub-Saharan Africa lack access to diagnostic and treatment services for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea.

In February, President Obama released a Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) budget proposal that included US$56.2 billion for the International Affairs budget, a 2.4 percent increase from FY12 enacted levels. However, global health programs would suffer cuts under the recommended proposal.

Health and infrastructure challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa and South- East Asia are active contributors to child death.

STEPHANIE DOLAN: Why has USAID chosen child survival as an issue of significant focus for this year? What was the impetus for the “Every Child Deserves a 5th Birthday” campaign?

In his annual letter, USAID Administrator Raj Shah pointed out that, “Development is full of problems we have too few ways to solve. Helping a child reach their fifth birthday is not one of them.”

Diarrhea and pneumonia are the leading killers of children under the age of five. Yet, treatment for both diseases has existed for decades and costs less than US $.50 per course.

THE GOOD NEWS:
More children are living healthier lives around the world than at any other time in history. Child mortality rates are on a steady decline, from 12 million deaths in 1990 to 7.6 million1 deaths in 2010.

THE BAD NEWS:
Nearly half of the deaths that still occur are due to diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria and neonatal causes. Furthermore, under-nutrition is considered an underlying cause in almost a third of deaths of children under five.

1. 1. World Health Organization, February 2012.