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Putting an end to avoidable infant and child deaths
A new United Nations report has warned that progress in ending preventable newborn and child deaths is slowing worldwide. According to estimates released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, around 4.9 million children under the age of five died in 2024, including 2.3 million newborns who died within their first month of life. Most of these deaths were caused by preventable and treatable conditions such as premature birth complications, infections, pneumonia, malaria, diarrhoea, and malnutrition.The report highlights that while global under-five mortality has fallen by more than half since 2000, the pace of improvement has slowed by over 60% since 2015. Newborn deaths now account for nearly half of all child deaths, with complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and the neonatal period remaining major challenges, especially in low-income countries.Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia continue to bear the highest burden of child mortality. The UN agencies noted that children born in conflict-affected and fragile regions are almost three times more likely to die before their fifth birthday than those born elsewhere. Funding cuts to health and nutrition programmes are also threatening decades of progress in child survival.
A childcare provider in India was detained on suspicion of placing young children in a washing machine.
A disturbing child safety case has emerged from a daycare centre in Bengaluru, where a crèche worker has been arrested following allegations of severe abuse involving toddlers. The incident came to light after videos allegedly showed caregivers placing young children inside a front-loading washing machine, locking them in bathrooms, and subjecting them to other forms of mistreatment. The footage has triggered nationwide outrage and raised serious concerns about the safety of children in daycare facilities. According to police, the daycare facility was located within a corporate campus and was operated by a third-party agency. The alleged victims are children between the ages of two and three. Following complaints from parents and the emergence of video evidence, authorities registered a case against multiple caregivers, with one worker arrested as investigations continue into the alleged abuse. The incident has prompted a wider investigation into the functioning of daycare centres in Bengaluru. Senior police officials are examining CCTV footage, questioning staff members, and recording statements from parents. While some caregivers have reportedly admitted to shouting at the children, they have denied the more serious allegations shown in the videos. Authorities are working to verify all evidence before filing further charges. The case has also drawn the attention of child rights authorities. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and announced that it will send a fact-finding team to investigate the allegations. The commission aims to determine whether existing childcare regulations were violated and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The company whose campus housed the daycare centre has stated that it is cooperating fully with the investigation and has temporarily shut down the facility. Parents have demanded stricter monitoring of daycare centres, including continuous CCTV surveillance, live access for parents, and more rigorous background checks and training for caregivers. The incident has intensified calls for stronger oversight of childcare facilities across India to ensure the safety and well-being of young children.
