Today, 1.3 million children in India die each year before they reach their fifth birthday—often from preventable and treatable illnesses like pneumonia, diarrhea, and infections.
These children need not die. With proper training, first-line health responders could greatly reduce childhood mortality.
That's why I'm urging the White House to support Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS) education programs to first-line health responders in India.
We know that quality pediatric training can save lives. In Botswana and Tanzania, hundreds of healthcare providers have used PEARS training to successfully identify and treat illnesses and injuries in children that, as we know, can quickly become serious.
This common sense approach will save lives and keep communities healthier, and I stand committed to promote PEARS education programs and save children's lives. I hope this administration will do everything it can to ensure that these lifesaving programs are made available to the children of India.
