High rates of child malnutrition, a critical sign of inequality in Cambodia!

September 03 – A ‘devastating’ gap exists between the health rich and health poor in every country, contributing to the deaths of thousands of children every day, a report released this morning by World Vision’s finding.

 The Killer Gap: A Global Index of Health Inequality for Children assesses 176 countries around the world according to the size of the gap between those who have access to good health and those who don’t. Cambodia is ranked a surprising number of 124 on the global index.

 “It’s a horrifying reality that in today’s world, when we have the knowledge, resources and tools to provide quality maternal, newborn and child health for all, that so many children continue to pay the price for the great gap in global health, with their lives,” said Andrew Hassett, World Vision’s international campaign director.

 “We know it can be done, as this report shows,” said Hassett. “But it’s now a matter of priorities – how important is reducing the preventable deaths of children? It’s time for leaders to show us.”

 With two years until the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals 2015, Cambodia has made some good progress on child health, but nutrition rates remain unacceptably high. This is an urgent issue that requires more efforts from government, civil society and development partners in line with CMDGs (Cambodia Millennium Development Goals). 

 World Vision Cambodia is launching the Child Health Now Campaign to improve nutritional status of children in Cambodia. Child Health Now will address the urgent issue of malnutrition across the country by encouraging the government to prioritise the issue and urgently accelerate action to address malnutrition. The general public and civil society also play a key role in ensuring malnutrition is not tolerated in Cambodia.

 “We know it can be done, as this report shows,” said Hassett. “But it’s now a matter of priorities – how important is reducing the preventable deaths of children? It’s time for leaders to show us.”

 The report and Global Health Gap Index are being released by World Vision ahead of the 2013 United National General Assembly to call on world leaders to “close the gap” on health poverty and end preventable child deaths.