Seventy percent of birth defects could be prevented, treated or ameliorated if the recommendations in this report are adopted.

The purpose of this report is to reveal the harsh and hidden effects of birth defects worldwide.

We estimate in the report that if the recommendations that we give were implemented, up to 70 percent of mortality and disability from birth defects could be prevented, treated, or ameliorated.

What we have seen in the U.S. from 1960 to 2001 is a 62 percent reduction in mortality from birth defects.