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Investing in world's poorest children can save millions of lives, UN study finds
In the global push to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, the very poor are falling further behind, warns a report by UNICEF released on Tuesday.
C/U Smiling boy
The Progress for Children' report says that addressing the needs of the poorest of the poor is the key to meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
UNICEF points out that many developing countries have steadily advanced while the least developed regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have fallen behind.
UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake says focusing on the poor has proven to be considerably more cost-effective than what is being done.
"For example, in low income and high mortality countries, every $1 million invested saved 60 per cent, six zero, more children's lives. And it therefore, because it is more cost effective, accelerated progress towards reaching the MDGs faster than the current course."
Mr. Lake stresses that the study does not in any way cast doubt on what UNICEF and its partners have accomplished over the last ten years.
He says it only helps to find the best way to build on what has been achieved.
Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations Radio
(duration: 1'12")
