An estimated 5 million children died before their fifth birthday and another 2.1 million children and youth aged between 5–24 years lost their lives in 2021, according to this latest estimates by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME).

Poor diets and malnutrition in all its forms are among the greatest global social challenges of our time.

The 21st Century has been marked by increased volatility in food prices, with global price spikes in 2007-08, 2010-11, and again in 2021-22. The impact of food inflation on the risk of child undernutrition is not well understood, however.

559 million children are currently exposed to high heatwave frequency, according to this new research from UNICEF. Further, 624 million children are exposed to one of three other high heat measures - high heatwave duration, high heatwave severity or extreme high temperatures.

This new UN report shows that women’s and children’s health has suffered globally, as the impacts of conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change converge with devastating effects on prospects for children, young people and women.

Children cannot live on staple grains alone; they need to eat a diverse range of nutritious foods. Child Food Poverty - A Nutrition Crisis in Early Childhood sounds the alarm on the state of child food poverty – a situation where young children are not fed the minimum number of food groups they need in early childhood.

As of 31 December 2021, 84 countries – comprising 43% of all countries – have legally binding controls to limit the production, import and sale of lead paints. In the majority of countries worldwide, using lead paint in homes and schools is not prohibited, creating a significant risk of children’s exposure to lead.

Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat have been ranked as the top three states among larger states in terms of the overall implementation of the Centre's flagship Poshan Abhiyaan, according to this Niti Aayog report. Sikkim was the best performer among the small states.

This new report- Nigeria’s National Immunisation Coverage Survey (NICS), has revealed that the country has recorded a significant decrease in the number of children who get married before the age of 18. The latest report said the statistics reduced from the 44 per cent given in 2016 to 30 per cent in 2021.

Globally, only half (52%) of children living with HIV are on life-saving treatment, far behind adults where three quarters (76%) are receiving antiretrovirals, according to the data that has just been released in the UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2022.

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