Children

Tragically, many children across the world die before their fifth birthday. This is most often due to preventable or treatable causes.

Women and Children First is supporting communities to save the lives of newborn babies and improve the health of children in some of the world’s poorest communities.


A baby peacefully sleeps on their mother's lap

A baby peacefully sleeps on their mother's lap

Too often children face challenges that can kill them or prevent them to reach their full potential. Many of the problems are linked to avoidable health issues and underlined by persisting gender inequalities. These are recognised by SDGs 3 and 5.

Mortality

5.6 million children die each year before their fifth birthday. Of these deaths, 2.6 million are newborn babies, who die before they are even a month old. 

They die from mostly preventable problems like pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria.

Of those that do survive almost half will not achieve their potential: they are more likely to have poorer health, less likely to be successful in school and less likely to have good employment. The effects can last a lifetime.

Poverty, poor nutrition, insufficient access to clean water and sanitation are all harmful factors to allow children to survive and thrive.

Malnutrition

Nearly half of the deaths for children aged under five are directly or indirectly due to lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat and not eating enough of the right things.

A quarter of children under five are not growing or developing properly. This can result in weaker brain development, poor educational performance, weakened immune system and higher risk of diseases like diabetes and cancer later in life.  

Local communities have the answers

Women and Children First is supporting communities to save the lives of children and ensure they can achieve their potential in some of the world’s poorest communities.

© Women & Children First (UK)
Registered Charity No. 1085096
Registered Office: Women and Children First, 483 Green Lanes, London, N13 4BS
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7700 6309 Email: info@womenandchildrenfirst.org.uk
Website Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Fundraising Promise
Stay close to us: Subscribe to our newsletter