With a global economic meltdown hitting hard poor countries, between 200,000 to 400,000 children are expected to die because of the crisis, the World Health Organization has warned.
"There is no reason why we should doubt that this [death toll] will happen if we fail to act," WHO director-general Dr Margaret Chan told the Times on Saturday, March 14.
She said between 2,00,000 to 400,000 children will die of preventable diseases as the meltdown derails improvements in health systems in poor countries.
"It is very clear. Past recessions have ample evidence to demonstrate the fact," she said.
"And the two groups that are most vulnerable are women and children, especially girls.
"It is so important to champion women and children; otherwise once again they will fall by the wayside."
The WHO chief urged world leaders to "walk the talk" of funding pledges to poorer nations.
"Because if we do not, more women will suffer or die because of complications arising from pregnancy and delivery, and more children will die because of lack of food or immunization or poor water and sanitation."
A meeting of the Taskforce on Innovative International Financing Health Systems was held Friday in London to discuss consequences of the meltdown on health services.
The meeting, attended by World Bank chief Robert Zoellick and eight world leaders, called for extra $30 billion to save 10 million women and children's lives in the world's poorest countries.
It warned that without the promised level of health expenditure, over five million children and babies will die, 56 million women will lack access to skilled care at birth and over one million people will become infected with HIV AIDS.
Way-Out
The WHO director called for new ways of financing healthcare to meet aid shortfalls.
"If we take action and introduce prompt measures then hopefully the damage can be reduced," Dr Chan said.
"Given the financial situation, if funding is not forthcoming the [healthcare] shortfall is only going to get bigger."
A financial firestorm swept the US and the world in September after the demise of Lehman Brothers, one of the US's Wall Street giants.
Since this, the crisis has knocked down many major companies worldwide, causing massive layoffs.
"My first hand experience talking to heads of government, heads of state and ministers of health suggests that some countries that depend on ODAs [official development assistance] or remittance are seeing a reduction in those," Dr Chan said.
"At this time when every citizen in every country and their political leaders are preoccupied with the financial crisis and what it means to themselves, it is vital that we focus on this solidarity."
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