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We’re working to ensure all children have a healthy start in life

We believe that no child should die from preventable causes. 

We’ve seen real progress in helping children survive their first few years of life. And yet, Shocking numbers of children are dying from illnesses that are entirely preventable. Millions of children still lack basics like safe water, food, and clean air. Every year, 5 million children still die needlessly before their fifth birthday. A global hunger emergency is growing with another 45 million children under five facing severe, potentially fatal, malnutrition.  

We know that marginalised children are the most vulnerable as they lack access to quality healthcare, such as vaccines, medicines, or nutrients – all of which save lives. This is especially true in conflict and emergencies, or in poor and deprived areas. We know that girls and women often lack access to care or information during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. They can also struggle to access health services or be denied an education that would protect them from unwanted pregnancies. 

But, we also know that a healthy world for children is possible.

Our impact for children in 2023

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33.7 million

children were reached through our health and nutrition programming.

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45,000

community health workers and health care providers were trained.

How are we working to ensure every child has a healthy start in life?

We are working with governments and our partners to keep children healthy and safe throughout pregnancy and birth, with the nutrition and medical care they need to reach their fifth birthday, and thrive into adulthood.  

Every day, our teams are saving lives and delivering healthcare in some of the toughest and hardest-to-reach places – whether in war zones or remote villages. Save the Children’s Emergency Health Unit has the right people, in the right places, ready to save lives.

We're providing girls and mothers with information on sexual and reproductive health so they know their rights and can plan for new births.

We’re making sure mothers and new-borns get good nutrition and healthcare throughout pregnancy and birth and beyond.

We're working to ensure children can access good nutrition so no child goes hungry.  

We’re helping communities prepare for future climate shocks, pandemics and diseases and ensuring they can cope when disaster strikes through providing digital cash transfers and psychosocial support.

We also work with local and national governments to strengthen policies and systems so that no child dies from a preventable cause. 

None of this would be possible without the help of supporters like you. Become a regular donor today and help children around the world have a healthy start in life.

Baby Priscilla*’s story

Priscilla was seven months old when we met her at a hospital in Kampala, Uganda at a hospital where Save the Children supplies life-saving equipment and runs trainings programmes to improve health worker’s knowledge and skills. Priscilla’s mother, Evelyn, brought her in to receive urgent medical attention. Priscilla started displaying signs of severe pneumonia including a persistent cough, low oxygen levels, laboured breathing and chest indrawing, a worrying symptom of respiratory illnesses, where the ribs draw in rather than out when the child breathes in. Priscilla was almost unconscious, extremely weak and was struggling to breastfeed. She was admitted to the high dependency unit where the team quickly began a comprehensive treatment of antibiotics, oxygen therapy and fluids to recover from pneumonia.

Within just 24 hours, her condition improved dramatically and in under 48 hours Priscilla returned to her smiley self. After 5 days, Priscilla was ready to leave hospital. With the help of our supporters, children like Priscilla can get the care they need to overcome illnesses like pneumonia and thrive into adulthood.

Find out how we are working to ensure all

 children are learning and protected.