World Health Day 2018 our work in photos

Home
Blogs
World Health Day 2018 our work in photos

World Health Day 2018: our work in photos

To mark World Health Day 2018 on 7 April, we’re celebrating our amazing health projects around the world and sharing stories of the lives they're changing – thanks to your incredible support.

Haiti: saving the lives of mums and newborn babies

Haiti has the highest maternal mortality rate in the Americas, with 630 women losing their lives for every 100,000 live births.

So we were thrilled that Plan International could provide a fully-equipped ambulance to the Haitian National Ambulance Centre, to help save the lives of even more mums and newborn babies – including Nadia.

Nadia, 28, in Haiti — “The ambulance saved my life and my son’s life," says Nadia, 28. When she experienced complications delivering her first child, her local health centre couldn't help. Luckily, the new ambulance took her to hospital, where she got the care she needed.

Ethiopia: protecting children from preventable illnesses

In Ethiopia, climate change is causing water scarcity, food insecurity and increased poverty, and it's small-scale farmers and rural communities that are affected the most.

Thanks to support from People’s Postcode Lottery players, we’re working in four drought-affected regions, providing lifesaving food, livestock and seeds to communities struggling to survive.

We’re also providing vital training to healthcare workers looking after children under five, so they can promote the benefits of good hygiene practices among parents.

Ayni, 13, from Ethiopia — 13-year-old Ayni collects water from the river twice a day, which often stops her going to school. But today, missing out on her education isn’t her biggest worry. “The water in the river is drying up, making it harder to find,” she says.

El Salvador: championing young people’s sexual health rights

Teenage pregnancy is one of the main public health issues in El Salvador.

That’s why we’re working with young people to inform them of their sexual and reproductive health rights and how to protect themselves against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

We’re also training Sexual Rights Champions like Noelia, who can help to educate their peers, parents and teachers, too.

Noelia, 14, in El Salvador. — Noelia,14, became a Sexual Rights Champion after Plan International visited her community. “The project is important because early pregnancy is one of the biggest problems in the area. People don’t know enough about this topic,” she explains.

India: a unique focus on young people

Many unhealthy habits, such as smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, lack of exercise and poor diet choices, begin in adolescence.

They can lead to the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart and respiratory illnesses, type 2 diabetes and cancer. But the global community often overlooks young people when it comes to tackling NCDs.

Our Young Health Programme, run in partnership with AstraZeneca, has a unique focus on improving the health of young people aged between 10 and 24, and working towards gender equality.

The programme works with young people who are trained as peer educators, to spread health messages and encourage positive, healthy behaviours amongst other young people and their wider community.

Street theatre through the Young Health Programme in India — Through the Young Health Programme, young people act as peer educators, spreading the word about good health choices through events, speeches, debates, street theatre and talks.

South Sudan: making periods manageable

Growing up in a camp for internally displaced people creates all kinds of challenges – especially for girls when they get their period.

Our peer-to-peer programme in South Sudan means young people like Monica can share the things they’ve learnt with younger children in the camp, including tips on menstrual hygiene.

In Monica’s camp, we’re also helping to keep young people safe from diarrhoea and illnesses including typhoid, by building toilets and improving hygiene and sanitation.