Four million children die annually in South Africa:UNICEF

Around four million African children die annually of preventive diseases, a recent report by UNICEF has pointed. The African nations contribute over half of the 9.2 million child fatalities in the world annually, report added. The report also praised Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi and other Sub Saharan African states that have succeeded in reducing the infant mortality rate by 40 percent. From 2000 to 2007 the southern cone countries in this continent have managed to reduce by 90 percent the diseases caused by measles, UNICEF said. According to Ann M Veneman, executive director UNICEF these signs of progress are a result of joint efforts made by the government and international allies to boost vaccination campaigns. The focus now must be on prenatal care, specialised attention during birth, breastfeeding in the first months of life and proper nutrition, Veneman added. UNICEF is working in over 150 countries and territories to bring a change in lives of children.