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Bengaluru, May 23: Seventy-five people. One cause. These 75 people from all walks of life ran in the 10k marathon to raise awareness about a silent epidemic in India: over four lakh newborns die within the first 24 hours of life every year in India, the highest anywhere in the world.
Every year, close to two million children under the age of five die in India. These children die not because of some untreatable complications. They die of causes and conditions like diarrhoea and pneumonia that are so easily treatable and preventable. There is very little public awareness of the fact that generations of our children are dying quietly, simply because they cannot access basic health care.”
“I have pledged to run for Save the Children’s campaign EVERY ONE to prevent the deaths of children under 5. This is an epidemic that no one cares about,” says Pradeep S. When swine flu happened, everyone, including the media made it to be an epidemic of catastrophic proportions. And here you have close to two million children dying every year and there is little public outcry!”
Another runner, Rashmi Chandra Shekar, said: “I want people to know that it is not rocket science to save the lives of children. There are simple, low-cost proven solutions.”
“I am running this marathon because I want the future of this country, children, to run in this marathon. No child should die because basic health care is unavailable” voiced Thoman Xavier.
Please click here to watch a video around Save the Children's participation in the Sunfeast Bangalore 10K.
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