Millions of lives lost: The challenge of saving children and young people around the world

According to data released by the UN, in addition to the 4.9 million lives lost before the age of 5, 2.1 million children and young people between the ages of 5 and 24 also died, with the majority of these deaths concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

The organization points out that many of these deaths could have been avoided, as they relate to treatable causes such as premature birth, birth complications, pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria. The lack of access to high-quality primary health care is identified as one of the main factors behind these losses.

The director-general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, pointed out that, despite progress, there are still millions of families suffering from the loss of a child in the first few days after birth. He emphasized the importance of improving access to quality health services for all women and children, regardless of where they live.

In order to combat preventable deaths and save more lives, the UN and WHO are warning of the need to invest in education, employment and decent working conditions for health professionals. The World Bank representative, Juan Pablo Uribe, stressed the importance of accelerating progress with more investment in this area.

Given these alarming figures, it is clear that concrete action is urgently needed to ensure that all children have access to adequate, quality healthcare, regardless of their geographical location. The lives of millions of children are at stake, and it is crucial that the international community unites to guarantee a healthier and more promising future for future generations.