I am back after ages with one very important message.
What would you say if I told you that every day
over 40 people died daily? You would probably want to know what is killing them
and where this killing is taking place.
What if I told you that this was going on
around you, a silent epidemic of death happening across the country in health
centers and homes across the country? All the victims of this epidemic are children
under the age of five.
Just imagine the potential that is snuffed out
daily. Yes I belabour the point of death simply because no one child should have
to die from preventable causes some as simple as being able to make it to a
health center in time.
18,000 children die daily in this country. 45%
of child mortality is mainly due to malnutrition.1 in 18 children die before
their first birthday while one in eleven before they are five. Despite our ability to feed ourselves, 1 in 8
children go to bed hungry. These are some of the shocking statistics. There are
many more that would break your heart.
Many of us don’t feel this because we live in urban
centers and have ready access to health care systems. They may not be the best
but there is a clinic or hospital within 10 minutes of most of our residences.
For mothers in the village, 2miles to the
nearest health center is heaven. On average most have to walk 7 miles to receive
any form of health care. We must and we can do something about this. We cannot
sit idle back while countless lives are lost right in our back yard.
As a country we have achieved a modicum of
success however we still need to do more to bring this number as low as
possible.
What can we do? For one educate yourself. One cannot
change what they do not know or understand. 2. Engage, there are countless ways
to be part of this campaign. You could support organizations like Save theChildren for one 3. Be pro-active. You have MPs, pester the. You have a voice,
speak up. Raise awareness and let our governments and leaders no that we shall
not stand for this. 4. If they will not help, gather like minded individuals
from your area and adopt a health center or something.
Many health centers simply need things like
surgical gloves, pain killers, mattresses or beds. We may not change the whole
country in one sweep but we can save one mothers and child one small action at
a time.
We now have less that 500 days to the deadline
for the achievement of the Millennium development goal to reduce child
mortality globally. Don’t stand idly by the side line. Be a part of the campaign
in your own small way. Every child is you.
