Caption: Women and Children’s Hospital in Mumbai, India: A child is pictured at Cama Hospital, a major hospital for women and children, in Mumbai, India. Photo: United Nations
The International Reporting Project (IRP) has sent ten new media journalists to India to report on child survival. You may recall, the Indian Ministry of Health along with UNICEF and USAID convened the latest Child Survival Summit earlier this month where, of course, child survival reigned top on the agenda.
India accounts for the largest number of under-five deaths in the world at around 1.5 million. According to the World Bank that number has steadily decreased from 69 under-five child deaths per 1000 in 2008 to 61 (Source). And according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN-IGME) India and Nigeria account for more than a third of all under-five deaths worldwide.
India, however, is committed to lowering its child mortality rate. Through site visits and expert round tables, the IRP journalists will share what they learn on their ten-day visit to India. Follow the #IRPIndia hashtag to follow the conversation through the end of the month.
Some key tweets that have stood out so far are:
So we were surrounded by a sea of people in a corner of Bhiwandi, attempting to look at Operation Asha. #IRPIndia http://t.co/7X2cWjKr
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(@misskaul) February 19, 2013FACT: 1 out of 4 children who die in the world die in #India. India accounts for 19% of all maternal deaths worldwide. #Health #IRPIndia
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Roshanak Taghavi (@Roshanakt) February 19, 2013Dharavi (largest slum in Mumbai) community radio produced by those who live there for them helps get important msgs out #IRPIndia
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Amie Newman (@amienewman) February 19, 2013Do m-Health Tools Really Work? Testing the Impact of Mobile Technology on Maternal and Child Health Care. #IRPIndia fb.me/21eFrddJ8
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Joanne Manaster (@sciencegoddess) February 19, 2013"media has been corporatised. News defined by what sells…. Space has shrunk so much for issues like health", #IRPIndia
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Joy Doreen BIIRA (@JoyDoreenBiira) February 19, 2013Journalist Kalpana Sharma: We journalists are equally responsible, we have not connected the dots #IRPIndia
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Jose M. Calatayud (@JoseMCalatayud) February 19, 2013Journalist Kalpana Sharma: Girls are neglected in this system, they are the ones who eat the least and last #IRPIndia
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Jose M. Calatayud (@JoseMCalatayud) February 19, 2013The current violence against women in India is a culture clash as women are getting educated, finding agency. -Kalpana Sharma #IRPIndia
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Amie Newman (@amienewman) February 19, 2013#IRPindia Monetary Incentives given to women in India for hospital deliveries.Same for accredited social workers who convince them to do so.
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JENNIFER ULOMA IGWE (@caremuchmore) February 19, 2013Some sari makers in Baiganwadi in Mumbai work between 12 and 15 hours a day, 7 days a week and make about 200 rupees a day ($4) #IRPIndia
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Jose M. Calatayud (@JoseMCalatayud) February 18, 2013"50% of babies who die in #India are malnourished....Nutrition plays a big role", Dr. Armida Fernandes #IRPIndia #Mumbai
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Joy Doreen BIIRA (@JoyDoreenBiira) February 18, 2013
Social Good Moms 