On any given day, there are dozens of headlines vying for attention in Washington, often ranging from disappointing to distressing. But one in particular should be celebrated: While much remains to be done, this generation of the world’s children is the healthiest in human history.
This year, an unprecedented 6 million fewer children will die before their fifth birthdays than just 25 years ago. Deadly diseases — from diarrhea and pneumonia to malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS — are being prevented thousands of times each day. Polio, once a global scourge that crippled 350,000 children each year, is nearly eradicated, and 10 million fewer children are crippled because of global efforts spurred by U.S. leadership.
In large measure, this success has been achieved through public-private partnerships that pair U.S. and foreign governments with nongovernmental organizations, faith-based groups, universities, philanthropic foundations, multinational corporations and local communities. We’ve acted together, and it’s working. Here are a few examples:
About the author
Patrick Leahy
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy ranks first in seniority in the Senate. He is the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of State and Foreign Operations. He is the senior member of the Appropriations and Agriculture Committees.
