People in low-income countries are living longer and healthier lives due to better control of deadly diseases like HIV/Aids and malaria, says the World Health Organization.
In the 2020 World Health Statistics published by WHO, it is shown life expectancy rose by 21 per cent or 11 years between 2000 and 2016 in low income countries.
Comparatively, growth in life expectancy seems to have stagnated in higher income countries with an increase of four per cent or three years only.
The recent life expectancy gains in low-income countries are largely due to major reductions in mortality in children under five years in low-income countries, a reduction of 53 per cent from 143 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 68 in 2018.
Gains may be reversed during Covid-19 pandemic due to shortage of services within and outside the health system, while prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart and lung disease, and stroke have been affected by Covid-19 too.
