The United Nations body charged with children affairs UNICEF has estimated that 140 million babies will be born in 2021. Globally, over half of these births are estimated to take place in 10 countries: India (59,995), China (35,615), Nigeria (21,439), Pakistan (14,161), Indonesia (12,336), Ethiopia (12,006), the United States (10,312), Egypt (9,455), Bangladesh (9,236) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (8,640). Their average life expectancy is expected to be 84 years.

What does this mean for countries like the Gambia? It could be recalled that in 2020 people took to the streets to protest over maternal and Infant mortality in the Gambia. It remains to be seen what measures the health ministry has taken to address the issues as we enter 2021.

 

By: Sarjo D Bojang