A detailed look at preventable deaths worldwide — the causes, the scale, and the fact that solutions already exist
Leading infectious cause of death in children under 5. Simple antibiotics can treat it.
Antibiotics: pennies per doseCaused by contaminated water and food. Kills through dehydration.
Oral Rehydration Salts: $0.10Transmitted by mosquitoes. Entirely preventable with the right tools.
Bed nets: ~$2 each in bulkUnderlying cause of nearly half of all child deaths.
Nutritional supplements existPreterm birth, birth asphyxia, and infections in the first month.
Basic neonatal care worksVaccines exist for measles, rotavirus, pneumococcal disease, and more.
GAVI has made them freeSevere bleeding during or after delivery. The #1 cause of maternal death worldwide.
Blood transfusions & uterotonicsSepsis and uterine infections, often after unsafe delivery.
Antibiotics & clean conditionsDangerously high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Magnesium sulfate & deliveryComplications from illegal or unsafe procedures.
Legal access & medical abortionAll of these deaths are preventable. Basic obstetric care — trained midwives, blood transfusions, antibiotics, and emergency transport — has been standard in wealthy countries for over 50 years.
In wealthy countries, these diseases are either rare or fully manageable. In developing countries, they still kill millions.
1.3 million deaths annually. We've had a cure since the 1940s.
6-month antibiotic regimen: ~$100650,000 deaths annually. With antiretrovirals, people live full lives. Without them, they die.
ART: $75/year per person600,000 deaths annually. Almost all in sub-Saharan Africa. Most are children.
Bed nets + ACT treatment = works1.5 million deaths annually. Caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation.
ORS + clean water = preventablePneumonia and bronchitis kill millions, especially the elderly and young.
Antibiotics & oxygen therapyIn wealthy countries, tuberculosis is virtually eliminated. HIV is a manageable chronic condition. These deaths aren't inevitable — they're choices.
The technology existsThese deaths aren't caused by mysterious diseases. They're caused by missing infrastructure — things that have existed for decades.
Progress is happening. But the pace is agonizingly slow.
Child mortality dropped 62% since 1990. That's real progress. But at current rates, it will take decades more to close the gap with wealthy nations.
Every year of delay = ~9.5 million more preventable deaths.
AI and automation could dramatically accelerate deployment of healthcare, infrastructure, and knowledge to where it's needed most.
The facts speak for themselves. What we need now is a plan.