Health and Nutrition

In Bale Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, many families live in remote villages far from health posts, where poor roads make access to services even harder. With training and support from Save the Children through the Gates Foundation project, health extension worker Sofiya* is reaching zero-dose children through vaccination campaigns. Her work, supported by community volunteers and leaders, has helped families like Halema’s* ensure that even newborns, like her 6-day-old son Ali*, receive life-saving vaccines.

In a vital initiative aimed at ensuring no child dies from preventable causes, Save the Children, with financing from UNICEF, is implementing the MAMI project in Mozambique to support infants under six months at nutritional risk. By combining specialized healthcare with strategic cash transfers, this initiative addresses the root causes of malnutrition, empowering vulnerable mothers to provide life-saving care and nutrition for their babies. Through this integrated approach, we are protecting the most fragile lives and building a foundation for a future where every child can survive and thrive.

The MAMI approach addresses gaps in child nutrition services, managing malnutrition risks in children under 6 months and their mothers, and integrating into health systems. Community nutritional screening was conducted to identify and treat acute malnutrition. Additionally, safeguarding sessions were held with the community, where participants demonstrated understanding of protection against exploitation and abuse, and the importance of treating everyone with dignity. Save the Children's complaint mechanisms were also explained, including safe and confidential channels for reporting incidents, with priority given to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases.

Between January and July 2025, Save the Children Zimbabwe and its partners supported communities to withstand drought, protect livelihoods, and safeguard children’s rights. Farmers in Matobo were equipped with drought-tolerant seeds, animal feed, and improved water systems, helping families recover and sustain their livelihoods. In Bulilima, mothers and children received nutrition support alongside strengthened community health groups, ensuring healthy growth and maternal wellbeing. Across the country, children are gaining new opportunities to read and learn through the distribution of literacy materials, teacher support, and digital learning tools. Communities also became better prepared to prevent cholera outbreaks through mobile awareness campaigns, while child protection structures were strengthened to fight child labour and trafficking. Children themselves played an active role in shaping national conversations on planning and budgeting. These efforts demonstrate Save the Children’s commitment to resilient communities, and a future where every child survives, learns, and is protected. Read our Impact Bulletin here: Save the Children Zimbabwe Impact Bulletin (January-July 2025) - Save the Children’s Resource Centre

Funded by Save the Children Korea and implemented by Save the Children Uganda, the Karamoja GOATS project works to improve nutrition and livelihoods for vulnerable households in Moroto District. Launched in March 2021 and initially rolled out in Rupa and Tapac sub-counties, the project empowers women by providing goats and vegetable seeds, directly combating malnutrition. The first phase concluded in June 2024, successfully addressing immediate nutritional needs while laying the groundwork for long-term food security. Now in its second phase, the project is strengthening its impact and expanding support to reach more households.

More than four in 10 (43%) pregnant and breastfeeding women seeking treatment at Save the Children’s clinics in Gaza in July were malnourished, said Save the Children.

Junior was born with low birth weight (2400g) to a vulnerable teenage mother who soon developed mastitis, severely impacting breastfeeding and causing Junior's weight to drop to 2100g. After a community health worker's intervention led to their enrollment in a MAMI pathway at a local health center, Junior was eventually referred and admitted to Metuge District Hospital for severe acute malnutrition, receiving F-100 treatment and comprehensive care for seven days. Following discharge, he continued monitoring at a MAMI space with ongoing nutritional and breastfeeding support, while his mother participated in support sessions. The family, initially believing Junior wouldn't survive due to cultural beliefs, witnessed his full recovery, transforming his grandmother into a community health volunteer, highlighting the success of health education, community support, and nutrition interventions.

Fuel shortages in Gaza could cut off supplies of clean drinking water to about 44,000 children supported by Save the Children in a matter of days, increasing the risk of waterborne illnesses such as cholera, diarrhoea and dysentery, with these children only a small number of those impacted by fuel running out.

Mother of two, Nodumo, struggled to provide enough breastmilk for her 7-month-old baby Isabel when severe drought impacted her farming business and forced her to live on one meal a day. She received a special nutritious porridge that increased her milk supply and when Isabel was old enough she also started eating it. Nodumo also joined a mother's group where they exchange parenting tips and learn about their children's health.

At least five children with cholera in South Sudan have died on an arduous journey to seek medical treatment, after aid cuts forced their local health services to close in the middle of a major outbreak of the deadly disease, Save the Children said.