Taking
care of a sick child is no fun, but that’s exactly what I’m doing today. It’s a
beautiful summer day with all kinds of fun happening beyond our door. My little
girl is in bed with a high fever and won’t be partaking in any of it.
I
feel so sorry for my little one, but am I worried about her life being in
danger? No. Not for a second. Because we’re lucky we live in a typical American
suburb. I gave her Tylenol from the cabinet and ran her to the doctor’s office
this morning just to make sure it wasn’t “strep.” I gave her a squeeze bottle
of watered down juice to keep her hydrated and a popsicle for the same purpose.
She’ll be fine in a few days.
Yet
elsewhere in the world, this is not how it is at all. Common sicknesses often
turn fatal without clean water, health clinics, or medicines. And they will
continue to unless the world acts together against preventable childhood
diseases.
This
year, more than 7 million children will die before they turn five years old.
Most of these kids live in impoverished countries, and their deaths are largely
avoidable. But consider these inspiring thoughts. In the past 30 years, the
number of children under five dying every year from treatable or preventable
illnesses globally has been cut in half through increased access to health
care. Plus, we have the resources to ensure every child in the world has a chance
to make it to his or her 5th birthday if we act together now and
protect funding for global health programs.
A turning point for child
survival
This
is a special moment in the fight for child survival. We have new tools to save
children's lives from pneumonia and diarrhea. Together pneumonia and diarrhea
account for over a third of child deaths. Last year, new vaccines to prevent
major causes of pneumonia and diarrhea were introduced for the first time in
low-income countries. Also, oral rehydration solution (ORS) – a simple solution
of salt and sugar that prevents deadly dehydration – was improved with zinc to
help recovery and prevent additional bouts of diarrhea. However, of the
millions of kids who suffer potentially life-threating bouts of diarrheal
disease, less than 1 percent are getting the optimal ORS and zinc treatment.
Progress depends on continued funding
These
life-saving efforts will not continue if we fail to fund them. Michael Gerson –
opinion writer for the Washington Post and former speechwriter for President
George W. Bush – said this regarding proposed spending cuts to global health
programs in 2011, “Fiscal conservatives tend to justify these reductions as
shared sacrifice. But not all sacrifices are shared equally. Some get a pay
freeze. Some get a benefit adjustment. Others get a fever and a small coffin.”
Simple fevers shouldn’t lead to coffins no matter where a child lives. We must
not cut funding to the tiniest people who need it the most.
What can we do?
Now
is the time for the world to take care of its children and now is the time to
take action. Learn more about child survival at USAID’s website, Every Child Deserves a 5th Birthday. You can browse the album
of 5-year-old pictures of others who support the movement looking for such
notable people as Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and even download your own.
Then, contact your members of Congress
and urge them to protect childhood survival funding. It takes less time to make
a call than to run to the store for Tylenol and can save the lives of millions
of children around the world.