Although there have been significant triumphs in the last 15 years with health initiatives, much work remains. The likelihood of a mother dying during childbirth has decreased by 50% since 2000, but maternal mortality rates in underdeveloped nations are still 14 times higher than in industrialized nations. Over 15 million fatalities from measles have been prevented by immunizations, yet children born into poverty still have a twice-as-high risk of dying before they turn five. AIDS is still a significant issue. 1.7 million of the 37.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS in 2018 were under the age of 15. Despite recent advancements, the most common cause of mortality for women who are of reproductive age worldwide is HIV. An estimated 50 teenage females die from AIDS-related illnesses. And each day, some 460 adolescent girls become infected with HIV.
What can you do?
- Share the facts about Global health to family and friends to encourage action
- Support health charities working in developing countries
- Write to your politicians asking what your country is doing to help on this topic.
