MANILA, Philippines – International organization Save the Children challenged candidates in the 2013 elections to address global issues on children’s survival in order to reduce the incidence of child death, and ensure national development.
Anna Lindenfors, Philippine country director of Save the Children, said while there has been progress globally in terms of decrease in deaths before children reach their fifth birthday – from 12 million in 1990 to 6.9 million today – “we are now entering the crucial phase and we need leaders to make life-saving decisions and help reduce child death rate by two thirds in 2015.”
“This is a race for children’s survival,” Lindenfors said, adding that one of the causes of child death, malnutrition, is a scourge that threatens global competitiveness. She said malnourished and sickly children make unproductive adults and endangers the future of the country in a highly-competitive global economy.
Lindenfors said the issue of child malnutrition is not just a threat, but a real and pervading social problem.
“Those running for public office must recognize that child survival is a race against time. It must be raised as an urgent election issue.”
To increase awareness on the issue of child survival, the Philippines yesterday joined Save the Children’s “Global Race for Survival” which aims to address the deteriorating state of children worldwide.
The Philippine leg of the event was held at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo, Rizal and at the South Cotabato Sports Complex in Koronadal, South Cotabato.
Themed “Takbo, Bata, Takbo: Ipanalo ang Kalusugan at Kaligtasan sa Mundo!,” the race brought together close to 1,300 Filipinos to cheer 160 children runners from elementary public schools of Antipolo, Parañaque, Taguig and Caloocan, and some 150 young runners from South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
Celebrity actor Dingdong Dantes of YesPinoy Foundation, Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares, entrepreneur and senatorial candidate Bam Aquino, National Youth Commission chairman Leon Flores III and Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon party-list participated in the event.
Norma Chan-Pongan, also of Save the Children, echoed Lindenfors’ statement. She said apart from making people aware of the issue of child mortality, the event’s objectives include addressing food security and child preparedness in times of emergency.
She said at least a billion children globally have never undergone medical checkup, while 16.9 million others have not been given proper vaccination.
“We are calling on all government leaders to address the issues and not to stop until concrete actions are taken on these problems confronting child population,” she said.
Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organization for children. The organization works in 120 countries.
Together with partner groups, they inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. –Rhodina Villanueva (The Philippine Star)
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