Healthcare

The first two years of a child’s life are the most vital. A healthy and happy environment in the early years gives a child the best chance for the future.

Sadly, many young children around the world today aren’t getting the right food, health care and opportunities for play and development they need for a healthy life.

Millions of children under five die each year and rates of death in pregnancy or childbirth continue to be high.

Everyone has the right to a healthy life. We help give children a healthy start in life by:

preventing avoidable childhood illnesses and infectious diseases
promoting protective and nurturing environments for young children, such as nurseries and play groups
giving support to parents and care-givers
improving access to quality health care for children and young people.

How Our health Work has helped

130,000 childrenin Guinea Bissau were immunised against polio

99,000 babies, children and parents in Cameroon received mosquito nets so they can protect themselves against malaria

75 health workersin Bokéo province of Laos were trained so they can spot and treat malnutrition and common illnesses

Photo of a health worker treating a baby for malnutrition — In Nigeria, a community health volunteer treats baby Halima for malnutrition

Helping children stay healthy in Nigeria

In Nigeria, mums face multiple barriers to making sure their children get a good start in life: half of women of child-bearing age are anaemic and many struggle to access healthcare. Despite Nigeria having the second-highest rate of stunting amongst children in the world, only two out of ten children are being treated for malnutrition.

Our project in Niger State is reaching the most vulnerable mums, and children under two, with the medicines, supplements and vitamins they need to thrive, while our community volunteers and mothers’ groups will make sure pregnant women and new mothers know how to access urgently-needed nutritional support. This project is being funded by the World Bank. Vital nutrition supplements are being provided with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Growing up healthy in Bangladesh

In Rangpur, Bangladesh, 22% of children are underweight and more than a quarter have stunted growth. That means hundreds of thousands of children may never get the chance to grow up healthy – and we know that girls and women are the most at risk.

Our five-year project aims to help 216,400 children to grow up healthier in Rangpur. We’re setting up school gardens to grow nutritious food for lunches and supporting children’s theatre groups to spread positive nutrition messages. We’ve also put in place a new curriculum subject to help children, especially girls, thrive.

Community healthcare worker in Nepal helps a woman with a newborn baby

Community health worker Chandra

After the Nepal earthquake 50,000 community health volunteers have been working across the country to provide healthcare to women and children.

Chandra has been one of the volunteers helping pregnant women access these vital services.

Chandra's story