Check out this post from our partner organization the U.S. Coalition for Child Survival about the introduction of the Global Child Survival Act of 2009 in the U.S. Senate.

-Margaret McDonnell

I attended the kick-off program for the first World Pneumonia Day in New York. The US Coalition for Child Survival was one of the original groups to join the effort to highlight this event – not a day of celebration, but more a day of awareness. Pneumonia kills more than 2 million newborns and children under the age of 5 every year, mainly in the developing world, and is the leading cause of child deaths. However, with the introduction of vaccinations and improvements in early newborn care, many of these children can be saved.

We need to redouble our efforts to save children from diseases and conditions such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and with issues linked to poor nutrition. The only way that will happen is with a country-by-country strategy and a focused plan of action. The United States can and should be the leader in such efforts to save the lives of young children. We need to increase the resources given to USAID, strengthening its capacity to help ensure that the full package of newborn and child health interventions is available everywhere.

Last week, Senator Dodd (D-Conn.), Senator Corker (R-Tenn.), and Senator Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced the Global Child Survival Act of 2009 (S.1966). This critical piece of legislation recognizes the challenges and opportunities in global child health and calls for greater coordination and enhanced accountability in US Government programs, as well as a government-wide strategy for meeting Millennium Development Goal #4.

The US Coalition for Child Survival has extensive information on newborn and child health, including an easy-to-use factsheet and FAQ page on the new legislation. Visit our detailed information page on S.1966 to learn more and sign up for our e-mail newsletter for updates on the bill’s progress and related efforts.

Let’s work together for the day when we can truly celebrate the end of pneumonia as the number one killer of children. Won’t that be a great World Pneumonia Day to look forward to?

-Andrew Barrer, Executive Director, US Coalition for Child Survival