Mothers and their children are the most vulnerable members of any society. Globally, more than 8.8 million children die of preventable causes before the age of 5*. They die mostly of diseases like diarrhoea and pneumonia - diseases that are entirely preventable.

The numbers are chilling. Across the world, most child deaths occur in the first month of a child’s life, but of those who survive that month, in the first 5 years, 19% of children will die from pneumonia, 18% from diarrhoea, 8% from malaria, 2% from measles and a further 3% will die from AIDS. It's malnutrition, poor hygiene and a lack of access to healthcare putting these babies and young children at risk. Almost all of these deaths - 99% - occur in the developing world; in countries where healthcare isn't given the priority of attention it needs.

And it’s not only children. More than 340,000^ mothers die each year as a result of birth complications. Losing a mother has a dramatic effect on the health of a child. A child whose mother dies is 10 times more likely to die before their fifth birthday.

Currently only 1 in 4 doctors in developing countries live in rural areas where more health risks occur. This means that too many mothers have to travel great distances to seek care.

In developed nations obstetric care has been a standard for more than 50 years, but around the world, more than 40% of mothers give birth without a skilled birth attendant.

This statistic hasn't improved since 1990.

Solutions do exist

The hopeful news is, children can be given a better start. If nutrition is improved in the womb and through the first 2 years of life, children can build up immunity to disease. It's estimated that 85% of pneumonia deaths can be prevented by early detection and treatment with antibiotics, along with greater education about hygiene and health.

With better access to healthcare mothers also have better chances of survival. Their survival has many flow-on effects, but mostly, it can create a culture that prioritises disease prevention and good health.

World Vision supports countries to meet Millennium Development Goal 4 - reducing child mortality by two-thirds - and Goal 5 - improving maternal health. 

Achieving Goal 4 would realise the prevention of 6 million child deaths each year.

Across the world, World Vision works in partnership with local communities - and local authorities - to assist in the development of stable health systems and better educated communities.

The Child Health Now campaign is focussed on assisting millions of children worldwide through this work, and also through advocacy efforts. We want to convince the Australian Government - and governments around the world, in both developed and developing nations - to do more to support healthcare in the world's poorest countries.

*Global Child Health Campaign strategy, World Vision

 ^ www.thelancet.com DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60518-1