Health

Report: Economic Growth Failing to Help World’s Poorest Kids

Published

9 years ago

June 23, 2015

An Indian homeless child reacts to camera as he plays on a roadside in Allahabad, India, Tuesday, June 23, 2015. A new report by UNICEF warns that economic growth is still failing to help millions of the worlds poorest children. In India, there are countless children living with grinding poverty, sleeping on sidewalks, begging at traffic intersections and relying on government-run lunch programs that often provide their only full meal for the day. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

KATY DAIGLE, Associated Press

NEW DELHI (AP) — Global resolve to rescue impoverished children from lives of squalor, disease and hunger has fallen short, with economic development in many countries still leaving millions of the most vulnerable behind, according to a UNICEF report released Tuesday.

The data show a bleak situation: The world’s poorest children are almost twice as likely to die before their 5th birthday as children from wealthier homes, and the proportion of those dying within days of being born is even increasing.

“This is outrageous,” UNICEF’s Executive Director Anthony Lake told reporters in a teleconference highlighting the report’s assessment of U.N. development goals laid out in 2000 for targeting poverty, hunger, gender inequality, illiteracy and other areas.

While the world has seen unprecedented economic growth in the last 25 years, the benefits have rolled out unevenly with nations focusing on national data averages that can obscure enormous inequalities between the rich and the poor, the report says.

So while the number of people living in extreme poverty has gone from 1.9 billion worldwide in 1990 to 1 billion today, 47 percent are still younger than 18. And while 46 million more children are in primary school, the 58 million still out of school are five times more likely to be poor, the report shows.

That means poverty is likely to endure for millions of people, ultimately limiting the full potential of economic growth, Lake said. “We need to address the needs of the most disadvantaged children before they become tomorrow’s parents and the cycle turns again.”

In India, the problem is particularly bad despite more than a decade of robust economic expansion, with 50 percent of the country’s 1.2 billion people younger than 24, and 60 percent living in poverty on less than $2 a day.

Children living in grinding poverty can be seen almost everywhere — sleeping on sidewalks, begging at traffic intersections or relying on state-run lunch programs to provide their only full meal for the day.

That poverty also drives children into dangerous situations like early marriage or unsafe jobs just to secure a bit of food or help their families. Last year, India was both honored and embarrassed when child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi won the Nobel Peace Prize for decades of work against child labor and slavery.

If nations don’t start focusing on their most vulnerable, another 68 million children will die before they are 5 by 2030, while another 119 million will be chronically malnourished, the agency warned. Open defecation, which in India alone leads to pathogenic diseases that kill 700,000 children every year, will also remain a vicious public health threat.

The report noted some progress toward improving public health among the poorest children, with chronic malnutrition decreasing 41 percent worldwide since 1990 and under-5 mortality dropping by more than a half. In addition, maternal mortality has fallen 45 percent, while more than 2 billion gained access to cleaner drinking water.

But the violent conflicts in Africa and the Middle East and natural disasters like Nepal’s massive earthquake in April or Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013 can stymie or even reverse progress if countries do not have stable institutions that can withstand such shocks.

The United Nations is currently leading efforts to come up with a new set of so-called “sustainable development goals” that will apply to all countries, not just developing ones, in setting benchmarks through 2030.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Bottling Company Voluntarily Recalls 14 Brands of Water Due to Possible E. Coli

Don't Miss

Potency Labels Often Wrong on Medical-Marijuana Edibles, Study Finds

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

6 days ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/PostNewsGroup
YOUTUBE: youtube.com/blackpressusatv
X: twitter.com/blackpressusa

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention Highlights Black Voter Engagement, and More

A Friday panel featuring NAACP Chairman Leon W. Russell and Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media, examined Project 2025, an initiative perceived as a potential threat to civil rights, healthcare access, and environmental protection. This session emphasized Project 2025’s projected impact on Black communities, noting that policies within the initiative could diminish gains in civil and environmental rights over decades. Russell and Wilson highlighted the need for vigilant monitoring and community mobilization to address these challenges.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

NAACP State Conference President Rick Callender (right) engages in a discussion on voter engagement and community advocacy with NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson during the 37th NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention in Los Angeles. Photo by Rich Woods.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

The 37th NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention concluded on Sunday, Oct 27, following four days of discussions and workshops at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Bringing together civil rights leaders, policymakers, and advocates from California and Hawaii, the convention operated under the theme “All In.” The participants discussed critical issues impacting Black communities, including criminal justice reform, health equity, economic empowerment, education, environmental justice, and voting rights.

On Saturday, the President’s Fireside Chat brought together NAACP President Derrick Johnson and CA/HI State Conference President Rick Callender, who discussed the urgency of voter engagement and community advocacy.

Guest speakers included Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), who spoke at the Women in NAACP (WIN) Labor Luncheon about the intersection of labor rights and civil rights. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond delivered remarks at the Leadership Dinner on education equity, focusing on policies to ensure all students have access to high-quality education.

Honors were given to longtime social justice advocate and former Assemblymember Mike Davis for his work in community activism. At the same time, actor and activist Danny Glover and the Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown received the 2024 Legacy Hall of Fame Awards, recognizing their lifelong commitments to advancing civil rights.

The convention also offered practical workshops, including “What’s On Your Ballot?,” where coalition leaders provided analyses of California propositions, explaining their potential impacts on community rights and resources. The Voter Turnout Workshop provided background and encouraged participants to promote voter turnout through community-centered outreach strategies.

Sunday’s events closed with a Prayer and Memorial Breakfast honoring the contributions of past and current civil rights leaders.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Atty Gen Bonta: U.S. Law Mandating Emergency Care to All Patients Faces Threats

The attorney general highlighted that EMTALA is vital for ensuring that no individual is turned away from emergency services based on financial status or insurance coverage. Bonta stated that the law has been a cornerstone of emergency healthcare for decades, providing peace of mind to millions of Americans who might otherwise hesitate to seek urgent medical attention due to cost concerns.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 3, 2024

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the critical need to protect the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), mandating that hospitals provide emergency care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

In a recent statement, Bonta highlighted the potential threats to this essential legislation amid ongoing discussions about healthcare accessibility in the U.S.

“EMTALA ensures that no one is denied access to emergency medical care, including abortion care, and this federal law is more imperative than ever following the overturn of Roe v. Wade,” said Bonta.

This decision to support the federal government’s case comes at a time when many healthcare providers are facing pressure from rising costs and legislative changes that could undermine existing protections. Bonta called on lawmakers to reinforce EMTALA’s provisions and to combat any efforts aimed at weakening the act, asserting that equitable access to emergency care is a fundamental right.

He urged state and federal governments to ensure that all Americans, particularly marginalized communities, have the necessary access to emergency services without fear of financial repercussions. The brief indicates the coalition’s commitment to healthcare equity, emphasizing that maintaining strong protections under EMTALA is crucial for safeguarding public health.

As discussions around healthcare policy continue, Bonta remains steadfast in promoting initiatives that protect emergency care access, asserting that everyone deserves timely and appropriate medical treatment in emergencies. His efforts align with ongoing legal and advocacy battles to preserve the rights established by EMTALA in the face of evolving healthcare challenges.