Womb Within remembers 2008 Universal Children’s Day

Womb Within is a blog dedicated to pregnancy but we also talk about children from time to time. In this vein, we’re talking about 2008 Universal Children’s Day, an annual reminder established in 1954 by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the welfare of children all over the world.

Most people who can read this blog can’t imagine losing their child to a serious illness, let alone preventable or easily treated illnesses. Sadly, there are millions of parents around the world who don’t have that luxury. They aren’t able prevent illnesses like diarrhea. Nor can they can get treatment for infections like pneumonia. Most people who can read this blog don’t have to worry about their children contracting malaria. But, there are millions of parents who aren’t in that position. They see their children dying because the medicine, which costs pennies, isn’t available to them.

According to a press release issued by US Fund for UNICEF:

"These children are not dying from incurable diseases or causes. These children are dying from diarrhea, pneumonia, measles and malaria—things that cost pennies to treat or prevent," said Caryl Stern, President and C.E.O., U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "It is unacceptable and inexcusable that defenseless children continue to die when the technology, expertise and solutions to save them exist right now."

In 1980, the annual rate of under-five child deaths hovered at 14.6 million, which totaled 40,000 children a day. By 1990 that number was reduced to 12.7 million children annually. Last year annual child deaths declined to about 9.2 million, in spite of rapid population growth, many prolonged civil conflicts and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

There are ways that we can help. My 17-year-old has been involved in raising money for mosquito nets. He plays in a floor hockey league – actually, this year he’s an assistant coach. Every year his program exchanges small gifts but last Christmas, it was decided that instead of exchanging 10.00 gifts, they would donate the money for mosquito nets. I don’t remember how many they bought, but it was a good number.

Back in June, there was an article in the New York Times about mosquito nets: A $10 Mosquito Net Is Making Charity Cool.

Can you do something to help the children – and those parents who are losing their children?

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Tags: universal children’s day, mosquiton nets, children dying