Help! Our children are dying

“The children of today are the future of tomorrow.” The statement holds great significance, especially when 17,000 children die every day under the age of five.

As a mother, I am aware of the fact that the first five years are the most crucial period in a child’s life. It pains me deeply to know that more than six lakh children are unable to reach the age of five in our country every year, because of a range of factors and lack of awareness of the need for hygiene, the need for breast-feeding, and the need for basic and life-saving immunisation.

I feel concerned that thousands of our children die every single day from preventable disease like diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Prevention is always better than cure – whether it’s improving sanitation and hygiene, or ensuring our kids are well protected from diseases. Two of the simplest, most cost-effective measures that can make a dramatic change are handwashing and immunisation.

Let me elaborate. As the "handwashing ambassador", I have seen first-hand how it can make a huge impact. The "Help a Child Reach 5" campaign in Thesgora village of Madhya Pradesh, where mothers reported that diarrhoea dropped from 36 per cent to five per cent prevalence, is just one example. We should have thousands more, across India.

We don’t consider diarrhoea as a life-threatening disease, mainly because you and I are sheltered from its worst ravages. However, there are severe strains, which can lead to debilitation and death. Now, the government plans to introduce a new vaccine, to tackle a virus that causes severe diarrhoea, but it is our job – every single one of us – to make sure that communities know to ask for it.

We as parents must lead the behaviour change. This week is World Immunisation Week (April 24-April 30), a good time to make sure that mothers take advantage of some simple life-saving tools. The government provides immunisation services free of cost, but many parents aren’t aware of its benefits and don’t take advantage of these services. 

That’s the task for us. Once each child survives that critical age, I know that they will take over. Our children will be a generation of good health ambassadors – they are our force multipliers. We often work with children in schools, as they are receptive to learning new habits, and when we educate them about handwashing, they go on to teach their parents and their communities. This is just the beginning of a cycle of good health!

And it’s not just India’s struggle. For two consecutive years I attended the UN General Assembly in New York where I engaged with various policymakers, influencers and UN dignitaries and urged them to join me in this lifesaving initiative of advocating a simple habit of handwashing with soap, thus helping more children reach the age of five worldwide to achieve our development goals.

This year will be a turning point, with the world replacing the Millennium Development Goals with a new set of goals in September where I believe handwashing should play a significant role. India has come a long way, halving child mortality the last two decades, but we still have much to do.

Let’s begin by acknowledging that preventable deaths are simply not acceptable. We can’t allow our kids to become statistics. So join me and spread the key basic messages – washing hands with soap and access to basic vaccines are non-negotiable. They can prevent our children from falling sick, and may even save their lives. It will improve their chances of being healthy and having a better future. Share this with those around you!

It’s time for us to commit to our kids, our moms and our country.