WHO Alarmed at Disruption of Health Services in West Bank
Issuing a statement, Brundtland said, "I have read reports prepared by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees and our own WHO staff. I am seriously concerned about the consequences of the hostilities for the people's health, not only in injuries, disability and loss of life but also they severely disrupt health services."
The targeting of civilians in the conflict is a deplorable development, she said, adding that beyond the immediate death and injuries there is a long-term price that will be borne, particularly by children whose psychological health is being directly affected.
"I am particularly concerned about the difficulties for people in need to reach and receive health services. This applies especially to children, pregnant women and the disabled," she said.
"I am deeply troubled by the fact that several of the casualties of the fighting have been health workers responding to people's acute needs and distress," said WHO director general.
She appealed to all sides in the conflict to accept the critical role of doctors, nurses and paramedical workers on duty, to respect their neutrality, equip them to save lives and relieve suffering, and allow them to do this vital work in safety, IRNA reported.
Almost 11 million children die every year from preventable and treatable causes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
A report released by WHO and UNICEF said, "Of the eleven million who die, eight million are babies -- half of them die in the first month of life. These deaths were preventable and treatable, not inevitable."
The vast majority of these deaths can be prevented, but only with the necessary political will and resources. Pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, measles, HIV/aids and malnutrition are the main killers.
Poverty is an overriding cause. Malnutrition and infectious diseases are a deadly duo that prey especially on the young.
A special focus will be on how to save the lives of the millions of newborn babies who die during the first weeks of their lives.
"We know that about 90 percent of the children that die each year, die at home," said UNICEF adding, "How children are cared for at home and in their community has a decisive impact on their chances of survival. We need to provide parents and caregivers with essential knowledge and commodities that can save the lives of their children."
WHO and UNICEF also focused on the critical needs for adolescent health and development. Children who survive the early years face additional dangers in adolescence. Every year, almost 1.5 million adolescents die from substance abuse, reproductive ill health, suicide, injuries and violence. Adolescents also account for approximately 50 percent of all new HIV infections.
Adolescents, families and communities must participate in the decisions and actions designed to improve their health and development. We need to build to build stronger connections between young people and adults, and provide young people with the necessary knowledge and skills to help them develop their full potentials.
WHO and UNICEF agree that there is a great need to strengthen health services, but investments must go beyond hospitals and health centers to empowering communities and families.
"In a world where most deaths happen before children reach any health facility, the focus must be on bringing services to people rather than people to services," said Carol Bellamy, UNICEF executive director.
The good news is that this tragedy can end, said Dr. Brundtland of the WHO. "We know what works, we need the political will and the resources to do it."
Progress has been achieved in countries that have shown commitment and invested resources in implementing cost-effective programs.
Pneumonia can be cured with low-cost antibiotics. Diarrhea can be treated with oral rehydration salts that cost as low as $0.33 per treatment, and measles can be prevented with vaccination for as little as $0.26 per dose. If all children were immunized against measles before the age of one, most of the 600,000 deaths from this disease would have been prevented.
Malaria prophylaxis, insecticide-treated nets, and access to home treatment could save most of the 900,000 children who die from malaria each year. Improved breastfeeding and complementing feeding practices would slash the death toll of children, as up to 60 percent of childhood deaths are associated with malnutrition.
"The resources needed to reach every child and adolescent are well within the means of our wealthy world," said Carol Bellamy.
"Allocating a tiny fraction of those resources to the needs of children and young people is an unparalleled investment in the health and security of our global community," Bellamy said.