Slow progress

"In certain areas," said Lawn, "particularly Africa, there's been very little progress. The average annual rate of reducing newborn deaths in Africa is less than one percent per year. It's almost the same as no change."

At that slow rate of progress, Lawn says it'll take 155  years for African babies to have the same chance of  survival that babies in high income countries have today.

The WHO / Save the Children report cites three main causes qweig0905  of newborn deaths. ccccccccccccc The first is pre-term delivery, being born too early.

"Doing simple things, like  keeping them warm,  fmdw110905 addjgvldo feeding them better, treating infections, would save them," she said.

The second leading cause of death for  newborns is complications during delivery. "So lack of care at the time of birth, having a midwife, having  access to safe care at birth would save the baby and the mother," said Lawn.