Child Survival Rate In Iraq Plummets

Report Says That In 2005, One In Eight Iraqi Children Died Of Disease Or Violence Before Turning 5

(AP)  The chance that an Iraqi child will live beyond age 5 has plummeted faster than anywhere else in the world since 1990, according to a report released Tuesday that placed the country last in its child survival rankings.

One in eight Iraqi children died of disease or violence before reaching their fifth birthday in 2005, according to the report by Save the Children, which said Iraq ranked last because it had made the least progress toward improving child survival rates.

Iraq's mortality rate has soared by 150 percent since 1990. Even before the latest war, Iraq was plagued by electricity shortages, a lack of clean water and too few hospitals.

The publication, which used data from 1990-2005, also determined that gains in survival rates in some of the world's poorest countries — including Botswana, Zimbabwe and Swaziland — were declining.

The vast majority of child deaths, more than nine in 10, occur in just 60 developing countries, the report said. Of the approximately 10 million children under age 5 who die every year, most could be saved with cheap solutions, like nets to protect against mosquito-borne malaria or antibiotics to treat pneumonia, according to the report.

"These aren't intractable problems," Dr. William Foege, of the Emory University School of Public Health, wrote in a foreword to the report. "It is simply wrong for only the few to have access to all of the tools for survival because of where they live."

About 4 million children die of complications in the first month after birth every year, according to Save the Children. Other causes of death for young children include diarrhea, pneumonia and measles, the group reported.

Among industrialized countries, Iceland had the best child survival rate, and Romania the worst. The United States placed 26th, tied with Croatia, Estonia and Poland. Nearly seven children die for every 1,000 live births in the United States. That was more than double the rate in Iceland, and 75 percent higher than rates in the Czech Republic, Finland, Japan and Slovenia.

Among developing countries, Egypt fared the best, lowering its child mortality rate by 68 percent largely by improving care for pregnant women, ensuring the presence of a skilled attendant during childbirth and providing better family-planning help.

Since 1994, Egypt has also increased health spending by more than 200 percent.

[johnshaft4]

Freedom and Democracy is on the march!

Too bad we are not reading of the same malady/infliction in Israel whose necon Zionist Likud Party warmongers (like traitor Wolfowitz) is behind this Iraqi genocide.

[johnshaft4]

Freedom and Democracy is on the march!

Too bad we are not reading of the same malady/infliction in Israel whose necon Zionist Likud party warmongers (like traitor Wolfowitz) is behind this Iraqi genocide.

[toldyouso21]

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS: America's illegal war of choice created a power vacuum, thousands of orphans and aided and abetted the rush to anarchy of the various groups. This tragedy too, is the fault of America.

[feelfree1]

What will be the final Bush Butchers' Bill, in Iraq?

www.ipetitions.com/petition/OutNow

[feelfree1]

What will be the final Bush Butchers' Bill?

www.ipetitions.com/petition/OutNow

[micma-2009]

Bush and Powell Plan World War III
Bush and Powell were sitting in a bar. A guy walked in and asked the barman, "Isn't that Bush and Powell?"

The barman said, "Yep, that's them."

So the guy walked over and said, "Hello. What are you guys doing?"

Bush said, "We're planning World War III."

The guy asked, "Really? What's going to happen?"

Bush said, "Well, we're going to kill 10 million Iraqis and one bicycle repairman."

The guy exclaimed, "Why are you gonna kill a bicycle repairman?!"

Bush turned to Powell and said, "See, I told you no one would worry about the 10 million Iraqis!"

[micma-2009]

Bush and Powell Plan World War III
Bush and Powell were sitting in a bar. A guy walked in and asked the barman, "Isn't that Bush and Powell?"

The barman said, "Yep, that's them."

So the guy walked over and said, "Hello. What are you guys doing?"

Bush said, "We're planning World War III."

The guy asked, "Really? What's going to happen?"

Bush said, "Well, we're going to kill 10 million Iraqis and one bicycle repairman."

The guy exclaimed, "Why are you gonna kill a bicycle repairman?!"

Bush turned to Powell and said, "See, I told you no one would worry about the 10 million Iraqis!"

[mh4cbs1]

Notice this story didn't mention that the 1990 deaths of children were due to the severity of US-led sanctions. Banning even such items as water treatment equipment.

US does it again, as the media hypes our generosity (we actually are low on the list as % of GNP)and sweeps the US atrocities under the rug (support of friendly brutal dictators like Saddam, coups against countries that want to own their own natural resources, and of course WAR based on LIES).

[mh4cbs1]

From BBC today(the kind of news our corporate media likes to sweep under the rug):

"An attack by a US helicopter against suspected insurgents in Iraq has killed a number of children at a primary school, Iraqi security sources say"

Nice job BUSH and CHENEY! JAIL these murderous thugs who LIED us into this DISASTER for their NeoCon dream of regional dominance and control of $21 TRILLION in Iraqi Oil.

[grazinggoat]

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ! This is a very humanitarian mission accomplished!