A Mother's Day Report Card: The Best - And Worst - Countries to Be a Mother

    Millions of Children Still Dying Each Year Despite Availability of
    Proven, Low-Cost Interventions

    TORONTO, May 8 /CNW/ - Egypt has made the most progress since 1990 - and
Iraq the least - in saving the lives of children under 5, according to the
eighth annual State of the World's Mothers report issued today by Save the
Children. The rankings indicate which countries are succeeding and which are
failing to save the lives of children under the age of 5.
    Twenty of the 60 developing countries in the Child Survival Progress
Rankings have either made no progress in reducing deaths among children under
age 5, or their mortality rates have increased since 1990.
    Canada's ranking has dropped from 5th to 25th of the 43 most developed
countries.
    According to the report, Iraq's child mortality rate has increased by a
staggering 150 percent since 1990. Ethiopia and Burkina Faso, countries where
Save the Children Canada is working, face huge challenges as indicated by
their Children's Survival rankings of 38th and 33rd respectively among the 42
least developed countries of the world.
    "More than 10 million children under age 5 still die each year," said
Save the Children Canada's President and CEO David Morley. "The interventions
that can save these lives, such as vaccines, oral rehydration therapy and
insecticide-treated mosquito nets are not expensive. Yet, sadly, many mothers
and children lack access to these lifesaving measures," he said.Major findings:

    -   The three biggest killers of children under 5 worldwide are newborn
        disorders, pneumonia and diarrhea. By using low cost interventions,
        the report notes, we can save more than 6 million of the 10.1 million
        children who die every year.

    -   The majority of child deaths occur in just 10 countries. AIDS and
        armed conflict are behind spiking child mortality rates, as in the
        case of Iraq and Afghanistan.

    -   Among developing countries, Malawi, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tanzania and
        Madagascar are making great strides in child survival because they
        have invested in better health care for mothers, better nutrition for
        children, and lifesaving health care services to prevent and treat
        deadly diseases, proving that political will and social commitment
        are key when it comes to saving the lives of children.

    Recommendations:

    To succeed in saving the lives of children under 5, Save the Children
recommends that countries:

    -   Invest in basic, low-cost solutions to save children's lives
    -   Make health care available to the poorest and most vulnerable mothers
        and children
    -   Increase funding and improve strategies to provide basic, effective,
        lifesaving services to those who need it mostThe report calls on governments to increase their political and financial
support for proven solutions that save the lives of mothers, children and
newborns.

    Save the Children Canada works to bring lasting changes to children's
lives. We are part of an alliance of 28 independent Save the Children
organizations working to ensure the well-being of children in more than 110
countries.

For further information: For interviews contact: Sue Rooks,
Communications, Save the Children Canada, Cell: [phone],
[e-mail]