Majority of infant deaths easily preventable

About eight million children who are dying throughout the world each year could survive with better access to "simple and affordable interventions", University of Otago Prof Philip Hill says.

Prof Hill, who was born in Dunedin but spent much of his childhood overseas, was earlier this year appointed director of the university's recently established Centre for International Health.

This seeks to help improve the health of people in developing countries, through research and postgraduate training.

The centre also hosts the recently established Otago International Health Network, which aims to foster collaborative links between researchers involved with aspects of international health.

More than 50 researchers from the university's three main campuses, in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington, will take part in the network's first gathering.

It is a two-day conference which starts in Dunedin today.

Leading overseas experts and researchers working on diverse projects involving the Pacific, Africa, Asia and South America will participate.

Prof Hill, who is the McAuley Professor of International Health, said the World Health Organisation's latest Global Disease Burden report, released last month, contained some "shocking statistics".

About 10 million children under the age of 5 were dying each year, more than 80% of whom could survive with better access to "simple and affordable interventions," he said.

"Otago researchers are making important contributions in areas related to international health.

"But there is still much scope to develop new projects and collaborations that could lead to significant health gains."

Prof Richard Adegbola, a world-leading vaccine researcher from Africa, will give the inaugural McAuley Oration, a public lecture, at the Otago Museum's Hutton Theatre at 5.30pm today.

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