Each of the following four diseases account for more deaths worldwide than HIV/AIDS, but are entirely preventable. (In fact AIDS deaths come generally from complications related to one of these diseases). These four diseases deeply impact the unreached world; anyone involved in ministry to an unreached people group will eventually encounter one of them. Eradicating these diseases would go a long way to reducing child mortality and significantly increasing the health, quality of life and economic stability of the “poorest of the poor.”
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease widespread in tropical and sub-tropical regions. It can be stopped by preventing mosquito bites (nets, repellants, insecticides) and by antimalarial medications. Each year there are 225 million cases, killing around 781,000, mostly young children. 90% of all deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria is estimated to cost Africa $12 billion per year in health care, lost work, lost school, decreased productivity due to brain damage, and loss of investment and tourism. There are global initiatives to stop malaria and eradicate it by 2015: they saw a marked 10% decline in malaria deaths in Africa between 2008 and 2009.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that can be spread through the air (coughing, sneezing, spitting). Most who are infected do not get actively sick, but the infection can lie ‘dormant’ for years in their system. About 10% of all infections lead to acute tuberculosis which, if untreated, kills half of those infected. About a third of the world is estimated to be infected, with new infections occurring at the rate of 1 per second. Most cases of tuberculosis are in Southeast Asia and Africa. About 1.7 million died from tuberculosis in 2009, most in Africa. When combined with HIV, tuberculosis is extremely deadly. Drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis are emerging. The World Health Organization has a Global Plan to Stop TB for 2006-2015. The tuberculosis death rate globally has fallen by a third since 1990, and the current goal is to halve deaths by 2015 in comparison with 1990.
Pneumonia is a respiratory disease that can result from an infection. It is the biggest killer of children under 5: 2 million deaths per year (20% of all child deaths). An estimated 150 million incidents of pneumonia occur every year among under-5s in developing countries (95% of all cases worldwide); more than half of these occur in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Less than 20% of those sickened receive medical treatment, often because their parents or caregivers do not recognize the danger signs. To reduce child mortality, pneumonia must be dealt with, usually through education, prevention and treatment interventions.
Diarrhea kills 1.5 million children worldwide, most under 2. Diarrhea is usually caused by diseases like cholera and rotavirus, in turn caused by polluted drinking water. The only way to address diarrhea is with oral rehydration therapy and dealing with the challenge of unclean water.
Global Statistics
In 1955, percent of children under 5 dying before age 5: 21%
In 2005, percent of children under 5 dying before age 5: 7%
Under-5s dying from preventable causes, p.a., 2005: 10.6 million
Under-5s killed by pneumonia, p.a.: 2 million (largest cause of death for Under-5s Worldwide)
Under-5s killed by diarrhea, p.a.: 1.6 million
Malaria deaths, p.a., 2011: 0.7 million (85% under-5s)
Under-5s killed by measles, p.a.: 0.5 million
Number of Under-5s infected with HIV, daily: 1,800 (pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding)
Number of children in Sudan dying under the age of 5, p.a.: 300,000
Number of children in Sudan dying in first 28 days, p.a.: 110,000
Number of women in Sudan who die as a result of childbirth, p.a.: 26,000
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