HIV major factor in rising child deaths

Aids-related deaths in South Africa: 2 424 770 at noon on March 18

Mothers and children in South Africa are dying in alarming numbers. Far from being on track to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing child mortality by two-thirds, the country is among only a dozen worldwide where child deaths are rising.

The report, Every Death Counts, produced jointly by the Department of Health, the Medical Research Council and the University of Pretoria, asserts that HIV/Aids is one of the main reasons South Africa has failed to reduce its child mortality rates, while other countries with similar gross national incomes, such as Brazil and Mexico, are on track to meet the MDG.

In total at least 75 000 children die before their fifth birthday, while 1 600 mothers die due to pregnancy or childbirth complications, according to the report.

Source: www.plusnews.org