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10/08/2004:

"Africa: Highest child deaths"

United Nations - One in four children in Sierra Leone dies before age five, and one in 10 in Iraq. Across the globe, poor care for newborns, malaria, diarrhoea, malnutrition and even measles snuff out lives before a fifth birthday, according to a United Nations report released on Friday.

The United Nations Children's Fund reported "alarmingly slow progress on reducing child deaths": One in 12 children worldwide doesn't make it to age 5, with half of all under-5 deaths in sub-Saharan Africa.

"It is incredible that in an age of technological and medical marvels, child survival is so tenuous in so many places, especially for the poor and marginalised," said Unicef director Carol Bellamy, launching the report.

Full Article : news24.com