Helping Children Survive To Five (NAPSA)—The amountit costs to help save a child’s life may surprise you—it’s much less than you might imagine. The main killers of children 5 and under globally are complications during birth, pneumonia, diarrhea and measles. These causes, not generally life-threatening in the U.S., claim nearly 27,000 younglives each day, many not even a monthold. “Two thirds of these lives could be saved with low-cost services and practices that are readily available, such as a solution of salts, sugar and clean water to treat diarrhea, vaccinations, antibiotics to treat pneumonia and exclusive breastfeeding,” said David Oot, associate vice president of Save the Children, a global independent humanitarian organization. The cost is not high. Antibiotics to treat pneumonia can costaslit- Many of the world’s children do not live untill their fifth birthday. Fortunately, lifesaving interventions are low-costandeffective. tor for the U.S. Coalition for Child Survival. Americans agree. In a recent amin A capsules costs just a few cents. Yet, these tools are not national poll conducted by the coalition, almost all Americans surveyed placed saving children’s lives as a top priority for U.S. international assistance, and a large majority of Americans (84 percent) support increasing funding to reduce the top preventable living in developing countries. An alliance of global health approved new legislation before tle as 30 cents. A child can be immunized against six major childhood diseases for as little as $17, and a twice-yearly dose ofvitavailable to all mothers and babies deaths of the youngest children. Eight in 10 Americans polled groups composing the U.S. Coalition for Child Survival are hoping to change that. They are asking Congress to increase funding to child health programs in developing countries. “Funding for the survival of the world’s children is among the best investments of our foreign assistance dollars,” said launched a new effort, Survive to 5, that gives Americans ways to help children worldwide grow up to celebrate their fifth birthday. To learn more, visit www. expand maternal and child health interventions globally. Andrew Barrer, executive direc- Congress that would provide additional support for maternal and Save the Children recently savethechildren.org.
