Sep 12, 2008 09:00 AM
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GENEVA–The United Nations Children's Fund says the number of children who die before the age of five has declined by 27 per cent over the last two decades.
UNICEF spokeswoman Miranda Eeles says increased breast feeding, Vitamin A supplements, measles vaccines, mosquito nets against malaria and HIV/AIDS prevention have been mainly responsible for the progress.
She said Friday that 9.2 million children under five died last year around the world.
But improvements have been made in all regions including sub-Saharan Africa, where most of the fatalities occur.
Save the Children UK says the new figures are good news.
Chief Executive Jasmine Whitbread warns, however, that high food prices and climate change could reverse the gains.
