Unicef calls for investment in child mortality

An investment in child mortality has been called for by Unicef.

According to Dr Mickey Chopra, chief health officer at Unicef, the time is ideal to spend money on reducing the number of deaths caused by complications during pregnancy.

Speaking to British newspaper the Guardian, he explained the amount of money needed to make a difference around the world is "not huge".

Dr Chopra also argued it could lead to a "man on the moon moment", while there is already a clear idea of where children are dying.

He said: "24 countries account for 80 per cent of the deaths. We know where they are dying within those countries."

Botswana, Egypt, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda and Tanzania are among the countries where progress has been made in cutting the child mortality rate in recent years.

However, many countries in the developing world are finding it hard to make progress in this area at the present time and investment could help.

Unicef helps countries in the collection of data through Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, which is the international household survey programme it developed following the 1990 World Summit for Children.