Plan holds alternative World Cup to celebrate Day of the African Child

As the World Cup gets underway in South Africa, the world’s spotlight is on the African continent. This year’s Day of the African Child on June 16 serves as a reminder of what should not be forgotten: the importance of children’s health. As partner of Action for Global Health, Plan has developed an online soccer game ‘Kick off … for children’s health’ to call for urgent action in the fight against child mortality.

Join the winning MDG 4 soccer team!

The fourth Millennium Development Goal on child mortality commits world leaders to reduce the under-five mortality rate by 2/3 by 2015. But every day, 25,000 children still die from largely preventable causes – that's one child every three seconds. 99% of these deaths occur in the developing world.

On June 16, 2010, Action for Global Health is teaming up with Michael Cashman, the European parliament's reporter on the MDGs, to organize a soccer match on children’s health for European parliamentarians at the European parliament in Strasbourg.

The partnership is also launching an associated online soccer game ‘Kick off! … for children’s health’ at www.mdg4.eu. The online game will test your knowledge on children's health and demonstrate what needs to be done to fight against child mortality worldwide and rescue the three health MDGs - progress towards which falls seriously short of what is required.

Kick off! … Play the soccer game now!

One soccer match = 1,800 children’s lives that need saving!

"With one child dying every three seconds, the time for action is now. In the 90 minutes that it takes to play a soccer match, about 1,800 children die from easily preventable causes. It’s time to show child mortality the red card!" says Sabine Terlecki, Plan focal person for Action for Global Health.

"A soccer game is fun. But behind the game lies a serious message: Global leaders are failing to successfully tackle child mortality, and millions of children are dying every day as a result. This online campaign brings an important message to heart of EU policymaking. They must listen and kick off … for children’s health”, she adds.

Michael Cashman, whose report on the MDGs will be voted on at parliament's June plenary session, says policymakers must not waste any time in addressing this issue.

"The report highlights that additional funding and alternative sources of funding are necessary to meet the strong commitments we have made in 2000 and put the MDGS back on track. Failure is not an option, and the EU council in June needs to adopt a rescue package that will lead the way for the UN summit in September. If we guarantee effective aid, lives will be saved and poverty will be eradicated," he says.

"All eyes will be on South Africa during the World Cup in June and it is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of the reality of the African continent," concludes Cashman, who met with parliamentarians, ministers and civil society representatives in South Africa earlier this month, as chair of the European parliament delegation for relations with South Africa.

Play 'Kick off! … for children’s health' now!