The most effective way to ensure children's wellbeing and long-term success of developing countries is to educate women. In Papua New Guinea, where 30% of the population struggle to make it to high school, many young women are missing out on information crucial for their futures.

Health needs to exist beyond a healthcare system. The biggest killer of children is lack of knowledge, because the solutions to preventing diseases and avoiding malnutrition can be found through education.

In Papua New Guinea, a recent study found that 2 maternal deaths in every 1,000 births can be prevented for each year of high school a mother completes.

Yet PNG consistently rates in the bottom 30 nations for literacy. Women in PNG are particularly badly off – they’re more than 13% less likely to be literate than men.

Education simply hasn’t been a priority. PNG has long been prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and floods, and these have interrupted both health and education services.

In PNG, the interruption has resulted in many mothers ignoring immunisation. Preventable diseases like measles, pneumonia and diarrhoea are rife when information about how to stay healthy isn't widely known. Children in schools can play an important role in the education process, by bringing home health information about these and other issues.

A study of over 152 countries defined poor female literacy and poverty as the biggest factors in child mortality. Of women who complete secondary school, 84% will have a skilled attendant at their birth, plus they are comfortable with seeking out healthcare for themselves.

PNG will make some progress to better health information in 2010 when primary school becomes universally free.