By Our Correspondent
National News – The United Nations has raised concern over the slow progress in reducing global child mortality, revealing that about 4.9 million children died before reaching their fifth birthday in 2024.
The alarming figures were disclosed in a new global report assessing the leading causes of deaths among children under five years of age.
The report, titled “Levels and Trends in Child Mortality,” was released by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.
According to the findings, approximately 2.3 million of the deaths recorded were newborns who died within the first month of life.
The study highlights that many of these deaths could have been prevented through affordable healthcare interventions, improved nutrition, and wider access to quality medical services.
Although global under-five deaths have dropped by more than half since 2000, the pace of progress has slowed significantly in recent years.
Since 2015, the rate of decline in child mortality has reduced by more than 60 percent, raising concerns among international health agencies about the sustainability of previous gains.
For the first time, the report also estimated deaths directly linked to Severe Acute Malnutrition.
Data revealed that more than 100,000 children aged between one and 59 months died from the condition in 2024 alone.
Health experts warn that the actual figure may be higher because malnutrition often weakens children’s immune systems and increases the risk of death from common illnesses.
Newborn complications remain a major cause of mortality.
The report notes that complications from premature birth account for 36 percent of newborn deaths, while complications during labour and delivery contribute about 21 percent.
Other significant causes include neonatal infections and congenital abnormalities.
After the first month of life, infectious diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea remain the leading killers of children.
Malaria alone accounts for about 17 percent of deaths among children aged one to 59 months, particularly in countries across sub-Saharan Africa where the disease remains endemic.
The report further reveals stark regional disparities.
Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 58 percent of global under-five deaths in 2024, reflecting unequal access to healthcare services and preventive interventions.
Children living in fragile or conflict-affected countries are nearly three times more likely to die before their fifth birthday than those born in stable regions.
Health experts are calling for increased global investment in maternal and child healthcare to accelerate progress and ensure more children survive and thrive.
