Progress in reducing child deaths slows as 4.9 million children die b… | HappeningNow.news

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Progress in reducing child deaths slows as 4.9 million children die before age five

An estimated 4.9 million children died before their fifth birthday in 2024, including 2.3 million newborns, according to new estimates released today.

Source AI Summary Published March 18, 2026 Brief Under 1 min brief
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The pace of reduction in child mortality has slowed significantly since 2015. This is evident in the latest estimates from the World Health Organization, which show that 4.9 million children died before reaching the age of five in 2024. The majority of these deaths are preventable with existing, low-cost interventions and access to quality healthcare. This underscores the need for continued efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure and increase access to essential services. The report highlights a notable decline in under-five deaths globally since 2000, with a more than 50% reduction. However, the recent slowdown in progress underscores the challenges that remain in achieving further reductions in child mortality.

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