Millions of parents in developing countries must daily cope with the fact that their children may not survive the first critical years of life. In many cases, the diseases that threaten their children’s lives are preventable.

Today, more than 24,000 children under age 5 will die from preventable or treatable causes. (1) These deaths mainly occur in developing countries. Improving survival and health of children in this age group in developing countries is a critical component of World Vision’s work to build a better world for the young and most vulnerable. A global challenge A look at the facts reveals why this is so critical to World Vision’s ministry. Life-threatening, yet preventable, diseases put children in impoverished countries at risk every day. In 2008, the top four killers of children worldwide were neonatal causes (36 percent), pneumonia (19 percent), diarrhea (17 percent) and malaria (8 percent). Almost 50 percent of deaths were linked with malnutrition. (2)

As a Christian, child-focused organization, World Vision provides health care and maternal and child health education so that children can thrive and reach their God-given potential. We also advocate for increased resources to fund programs that improve global child health and achieve policy improvements for health reform.

With millions of children on the brink of death because of disease and malnutrition, we believe it is imperative that we use all resources available to improve child survival rates. We cannot fight child mortality alone. This is a global challenge that requires immediate intervention on a global scale.

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Signs of progress

Despite the daunting nature of the problem, there are some signs of progress. While there were still 8.8 million child deaths in 2008, it is the lowest number ever reported.(1) Child mortality has decreased in all regions of the world because of an increase in hospital births, and increased access to oral rehydration therapy and immunizations, and other interventions. Simple life-saving treatements already prevent more than 3 million child deaths every year at affordable prices: Oral re-hydration therapy for diarrhea costs 6 cents per treatment. Antibiotics to treat respiratory infections cost 25 cents per treatment. Anti-malaria tablets cost 12 cents per treatment. Insecticide-treated bed nets cost less than $10 and protect against malaria for 3 to 5 years. While numerous uncoordinated initiatives have improved child survival and maternal health, greater coordination of these programs could yield even greater and more cost-effective results.

World Vision has launched a global campaign to end preventable child deaths. Learn more ...

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Child survival legislation

The Newborn, Child and Mother Survival Act in the House of Representatives and the Global Child Survival Act in the Senate are nearly identical bills that call for the United States to restore U.S. leadership in improving the health of newborns, children, and mothers.

World Vision believes that more resources and effective coordination between government entities and humanitarian development organizations will help us protect more children from preventable disease and put them on the road to a healthy life. Through simple yet valuable interventions, and partnership with organizations like World Vision, the United States can help cut down global child mortality rates.

Learn more

• Read about health services that World Vision provides for women and children around the world.
• World Vision's Child Health Now report (PDF) examines this silent emergency and outlines steps that weathly countries must take to significantly curb preventable child deaths.

Get involved

• Pray for parents around the world who struggle to keep their children healthy, especially in the critical first few years of life. Also, pray for more resources and effective coordination to help improve global child survival rates.
• Advocate. Ask your members of Congress to support the Newborn, Child and Mother Survival Act in the House of Representatives and the Global Child Survival Act in the Senate to help improve accountability and coordination of money being spent for child and maternal health.
• Donate. $25 sends lifesaving immunizations and healthcare for needy children and families.

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Sources

1. Unicef, press release, September 2009
2. Unicef, State of the World Children, 2008

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