April 03, 2013 Decrease child mortality rates poverty, birth
mortality, children, environment Another dramatic drop brings
zero closer than ever Over the last 50 years, UNICEF and its
partners have helped reduce the worldwide child mortality rate
by more than half. Much of that success is recent — the result
of tried and true lifesaving interventions and programs
perfected in more than 190 countries. Five years ago, 25,500
children died every day from preventable causes. Today that
number is 21,000. That means UNICEF has contributed to saving
12,000 more children's lives per day than was the case 20 years
ago. But it also means that 7.6 million children are not
reaching their fifth birthday every year. Worse - they are dying
of preventable causes and treatable diseases. And the majority
of those deaths are concentrated among the poorest 20% of
households in the developing world. Reaching the children most
in need. Half of all global child deaths occur in just 5
countries: India, Nigeria, Democratic Republic o