Simple Methods Urged to Save Children’s Lives

Developing nations need to adopt simple, proven methods of preventing diarrhea and malnutrition, which kill an estimated 7 million children each year, delegates to an international congress said.

Malnutrition is linked to nearly 60% of the deaths of children younger than 5, mostly in Asia and Africa. Diarrhea is responsible for an additional 20% of the deaths. Only one-third of the people in poor nations have access to oral rehydration solution, a cheap mixture of sugar, water and salts, which is considered a “wonder treatment” for diarrhea, delegates said.