Health Care

Every year, almost 6 million children die before their fifth birthday, mostly from preventable causes such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria and sepsis. Millions of children become ill or die because they lack access to health services or an adequate, nutritious diet. In fact, under nutrition is estimated to contribute to 45% of all child deaths. The world can save these children’s lives. The time to act is now.

Save the Children is a global leader in maternal and children’s health. We use evidence-based approaches to tackle life-threatening conditions and prevent child deaths. We know, for example:

• Appropriate care around the time of birth could avert more than 40% of deaths attributable to labor and delivery complications


• Appropriate care for small or sick newborns could avert 30% of newborn deaths


• Timely and appropriate treatment of pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria could prevent up to 30% of child deaths


• Exclusive breastfeeding through a child’s first six months of life could prevent up to 13% of child deaths

The challenge is that these services are not reaching the children most in need. Save the Children does whatever it takes. By reaching more children, especially the most deprived and marginalized, with a small set of life-saving interventions, we can save millions of lives every year.