Project Syndicate: Three Ways to Improve Child Health
Anita Zaidi, director of the Enteric and Diarrheal Diseases Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

“…Tackling [pneumonia and diarrhea,] the two biggest killers of children worldwide, may seem daunting, but we have all the knowledge we need to mount an effective response. … [T]here are three relatively simple interventions that could make a big difference. The first is breastfeeding. … The second critical intervention is improved water, sanitation, and hygiene in homes and communities. … The third key intervention is vaccination. … Pneumonia and diarrhea should not still be taking children’s lives. No single intervention will be enough. But the accelerated and coordinated implementation of the three interventions described here could go a long way toward preventing pneumonia and diarrhea, especially for the most vulnerable children, enabling them to lead healthy, productive lives” (11/24).