People Around the World Raise Their Voices for Children on Survive 5 Day

NEW DELHI, May 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

World Vision Observes Survive 5 Day Across the World to End Preventable Deaths of Children Under Five

In India alone, over 5000 children die every day before reaching their 5^th birthday, due to easily preventable diseases. Global statistics show that 40% of under-five child deaths occur during the first month of life. And many reports show, the 6 main causes of under-5 child deaths are Preterm complications, Pneumonia, Newborn infections, Diarrhea, Birth Complications and Malaria. One third of all under-five child deaths are contributed to by under-nutrition - that's 26 lakh deaths of children caused by hunger.

On Sunday 5^th May, (05/05), India's largest grassroots child-focused relief, development and advocacy organisation, World Vision India, is calling India to take notice of the injustice of high numbers of under-five child mortality. Using the symbolism of the two numbers that make up the date (5/5) the aim will be to spark a global public conversation to raise awareness and inspire action. "We as a nation cannot boast about being the fastest growing economies in the world when we have so many coffins lying in our backyard," said Dr. Jayakumar Christian, CEO and National Director of World Vision India.

World Vision India believes that these statistics can be changed, and that all children should survive beyond their fifth birthday. Most of these children die due to preventable causes and these deaths can be prevented by simple low-cost, local and sustainable solutions. World Vision India's experience in working with over 5300 communities across India has taught us that lakhs of women and children in India can be saved by implementing simple, cost-effective solutions like providing clean water and promoting skilled birth attendants to assist during childbirth.

World Vision, which works in 100 countries worldwide, is urging world leaders to consider and approve the resolution on the 'Implementation of Recommendations of the UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children' during the upcoming 66th World Health Assembly scheduled to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 20th to 28th May 2013.

Last year in November, World Vision India's Global Week of Action mobilised about 1.2 million Indians across the country to attract and increase attention on the urgent need to end preventable deaths of children under five around the world. 'Count me in - Survive 5' was conducted by raising hands and taking pledge to show support for improving healthcare of women and children in India and around the world.

People in India and across the world will be joining the conversation and raising their voices for the thousands of children who don't make it to their fifth birthday online with #survive5 and offline through various awareness events.

Evidence (a case study from Dingerheri village):

For the 1,500-people community living in Dingerheri, a village located in northern India about two and a half hours from New Delhi, attaining health care was more of a hassle than a routine activity. The one health centre in the village was constantly out of drugs, children were not receiving their immunisations, and pregnant women were using traditional, rather than professional, delivery methods. Perhaps the major problem, though, was that community members were not aware of their rights and what standards to expect from the local clinic.

World Vision India taught community members about their rights, how to evaluate the government's services and how to press for action from government authorities. The people of Dingerheri learned about several benefits to which they were eligible. They had not known that pregnant women could receive services at a hospital and that an ambulance would pick them up at their homes. They had also been unaware that the Indian government gives about US$29.00 as an incentive to women that choose to deliver their babies in a hospital.

Before, villagers said that when they got sick, they would simply wait to see if they got better or use natural medicines and visit traditional healers/quacks in the community. The downside to these methods was that at most of the times, their health conditions got worse. Community members also said that when they did not have a way out of the situation, they would travel about three miles to a private hospital. Those trips were not frequent, especially because it would cost them a small fortune. In order to finance the expenses and treatments, they would borrow money at high interest rates-not a good solution, but the only one about which they knew.

Now villagers get drugs stocked up at the local clinic and children got their immunisations. Community members started requesting appropriate services from local health workers, auxiliary nurse midwives and accredited social health activists, who are the first point of contact for healthcare. Positive results have been especially seen in regard to the maternal, new-born, and child health care situation.

About Child Health Now India

CHN is World Vision's global advocacy campaign to reduce preventable deaths of children under five. In India, this campaign partners with CSOs and the government in seven low HDI states in improving maternal and child health and nutrition.

About World Vision India: 

World Vision India is a Christian humanitarian organisation working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities living in poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, caste, race, ethnicity or gender. Spread across 207 locations in India, World Vision works through long-term sustainable community development programmes and immediate disaster relief assistance.

Primary Media Contact: Pradeep Daniel, [email protected], 91-9940192290

Secondary Media Contact: Impuri Ngayawon, [email protected], 91-8800605557