New research published today [September 19] in The Lancet suggests that, with sustained international efforts, the number of premature deaths could be reduced by 40% over the next two decades (2010-2030), halving under–50 mortality and preventing a third of the deaths at ages 50–69 years.
The findings reveal that, between 2000 and 2010, child deaths fell by one-third worldwide, helped by the fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to reduce child deaths by two-thirds; and premature deaths among adults fell by one-sixth, helped by the firth MDG to reduce maternal mortality and the sixth MDG to fight AIDS, malaria and other diseases. With expanded international efforts against a wider range of causes, these rates of decrease could accelerate, say the authors.
The most striking change during 2000–2010 was a two-thirds reduction in childhood deaths from the diseases now controlled by vaccination (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, and measles), highlighting what targeted international efforts can achieve. Read the full press release here.
Disease Control Priorities 3 (DCP3) Contribution
The study was authored by a cohort of DCP3 editors, authors, and advisory committee members, including:
- Ole Norhiem - Advisory Committee member
- Prabhat Jha - Series editor
- Margaret Kruk - Essential Surgery volume editor
- Colin Mathers - Essential Surgery chapter author
- Jaime Sepulveda - Advisory Commitee member
- Stephane Verguet - DCP Secretariat staff member
- Gavin Yamey - Communications technical advisory group member
- Dean Jamison - Series editor
- Richard Peto - DCP3 author
Disease Control Priorities Network (DCPN) collaborating institution, the Centre for Global Health Research, and DCPN project sponsor, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, provided funding for this study.
Additional Resources