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{{B}}Many Children's Deaths Preventable: WHO{{/B}} Over five million children die each year from disease, infections and accidents related{{U}} (51) {{/U}}their environment although many of these deaths are largely preventable, says the World Health Organization. On Monday, the WHO asked governments and citizens around the world to take action to create healthy{{U}} (52) {{/U}}for children as it celebrated World Health Day. "The biggest threats to children's health lurk (潜藏) in the very{{U}} (53) {{/U}}that should be safest - home, school and community, said Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, director-general of the WHO at the day's launch in New Delhi, India. "Every child has the right to{{U}} (54) {{/U}}up in a healthy home, school and community. The future development of our children — and of their world — depends on{{U}} (55) {{/U}}enjoying good health now. We have their future in our{{U}} (56) {{/U}}. Now we must work more effectively together to{{U}} (57) {{/U}}the risks from the environment which our children face," Brundtland said. This year's theme, "Healthy Environments for Children" focuses on the many dangers{{U}} (58) {{/U}}by children in and around the places where they live and play. These include inadequate access to safe{{U}} (59) {{/U}}water and sanitation (卫生设备), insect-borne diseases, air pollution, chemical hazards and injuries from traffic, falls, burns and drownings. Communities around the world organized events to promote awareness of children's health issues, {{U}}(60) {{/U}}included drawing contests for schoolchildren in Vietnam, street plays in India, puppet (木偶) shows in Namibia and professional lectures for policy makers in Germany and elsewhere. Activities also took{{U}} (61) {{/U}}in cities across Canada on Monday, including Calgary, Montreal, Halifax and Ottawa. Although children under five represent only 10 per cent of the world's population, they bear 40 per cent of the global disease{{U}} (62) {{/U}}, says the WHO. And as much as one-third of the total burden of disease may be caused by environmental{{U}} (63) {{/U}}. World Health Day has been celebrated on April 7th{{U}} (64) {{/U}}1950. Each year the WHO chooses a theme to highlight areas of particular concern. Last year's{{U}} (65) {{/U}}, Move for Health, focuses on promoting physical activity as part of healthy living. |