Records Break! Saving children's lives
by Diane V. McLoughlin
02/02/08
A GEM of great news! (And couldn't we use more of
them? I think we do.) The Executive Board of the World
Health Organization reports that, due to the dedication
and commitment of U.N. agencies such as UNICEF along
with other partners in development and funding,
tremendous achievements are being realized in saving
children's lives due to preventable diseases through
public health.
Highlighting progress in many areas of public health is
the Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan.
The increased funding of health systems is a "striking and
welcome change from the past."
Dr. Chan shared at the meeting that we have polio and
Guinea Worm cornered in a "final stand-off" and that, "we
must finish the job."
Worldwide, numbers are declining in HIV mortality rates,
but, that not enough is being done to prevent mother-child
transmission.
Progress is being made with tuberculosis control efforts.
But, 'worldwide emergence of extensively drug-resistant
TB is an especially alarming trend.'
On malaria, "The best reason for optimism comes from
the results we are seeing in some African countries,
particularly following better coverage with bed nets and
use of the newer strategy for home-based management."
[Understatement. I read elsewhere that the results are
stunning in the reduction in child mortality rates when
combining special insecticidal bet netting and the
availability of a new malarial drug; reductions of 50% and
more!]
Last year, according to Dr. Chan's report, Egypt and
China announced the elimination of a disease called
lymphatic filariasis, a disease that currently disables
some 40 million people. Other countries are reported to
be on the verge of similar achievements.
From the WHO news release (21 January 2008,
GENEVA):
'In her closing statement, Dr. Chan addressed a
potentially huge gain for children around the world; the
global immunization strategy, which was developed jointly
by WHO and UNICEF in collaboration with many Member
States and immunization partners. WHO is reporting a
massive reduction in deaths from measles, particularly
in Africa, and in increased coverage of routine
immunization. "Progress in 2006 was record-breaking.
I believe it is useful to look at what lies behind this
achievement and what it promises for the future." '
So, whoever you are, where ever you are; funding,
working away at the problems of improving lives, saving
lives, of people around the world (including little children
in their Halloween costumes collecting change for
UNICEF along with candies for themselves) -
The McLoughlin Post salutes you!
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