Save the Children releases a report and a call to Ending Newborn Deaths globally

The first 24 hours of a child’s life are the most dangerous with more than one million babies dying each year on their first and only day of life, according to new research published today by Save the Children.The new report – Ending Newborn Deaths – shows one half of first day deaths around the world could be prevented if the mother and baby had access to free health care and a skilled midwife.According to the report the deaths happen because of premature birth and complications during birth – such as prolonged labour, pre-eclampsia and infection - which can be avoided if quality health experts are present.The research also found an additional 1.2 million babies are stillborn each year, their heartbeats stopping during labour because of childbirth complications, maternal infections and hypertension. The world has made amazing progress in reducing child mortality during the past decade – nearly halved from 12 million to 6.6 million – thanks to global political action on immunisation, treatment of pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria, family planning and nutrition. But this progress could stall without urgent action to tackle scandalously high numbers of newborns dying. This report warns that newborn deaths now account for nearly half of all under-five deathsRead about Save the Children's call to world leaders, philanthropists and the private sector to meet and commit to the Five Point Newborn Promise in 2014 hereClick the link below to read full report or download it through the pdf icon on the right.Ending Newborn Deaths