Every day, thousands of children under the age of five die worldwide. Forty-seven percent of them do not even survive the first 28 days. But most of these premature deaths could be prevented. UNICEF works with enormous commitment to give all children the best possible start in life and ensure their healthy development.
The situation
Every day, more than 13,400 children under the age of five die worldwide. Children born in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are most at risk. In almost half of all cases, malnutrition is partly responsible for these children’s deaths. Complications during childbirth, consequences of premature birth and preventable diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, infant sepsis and malaria are further causes shortening the lives of these children.
This does not have to be the case. There are simple and cost-effective measures that can provide rapid help and effective protection for children, such as breastfeeding, healthy nutrition for mothers and babies, improved medical care and access to clean water and sanitary facilities.
How your donation helps
Early childhood is crucial for the long-term physical and mental health and development of children. UNICEF works with comprehensive measures in the areas of health, nutrition, education, child protection, water and sanitation (WASH) to adequately protect children during this crucial phase of their lives:
- Supplying local health centers with the necessary medical equipment, materials and medicines and training healthcare staff
- Conducting broad-based vaccination campaigns: UNICEF provides vaccines to 45 % of children under five worldwide each year. Vaccinations save two to three million children from deadly diseases each year.
- Distributing impregnated mosquito nets to families to protect children from malaria.
- Providing professional medical care to women during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Implementing programs to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child.
- Supporting nutrition centers where severely malnourished children are given therapeutic special food.
- UNICEF opens up new water sources in villages, builds wells and equips them with hand pumps.
- Building latrines in schools, health centers and public buildings, and providing basic hygiene education in schools and communities.
You can help too!
By becoming a project sponsor, you can help to give girls and boys the best possible start in life and ensure their healthy development. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.