Health and nutrition

Every child has the right to live as healthy as possible.

Yet another 3.1 million children die of malnutrition each year. The majority of the deaths of these children could be prevented with preventive health services and adequate awareness of parents. Malnutrition is a serious problem that exposes children to lifelong consequences in terms of both physical and cognitive development. Lack of clean water and inadequate hygiene conditions cause not only directly preventable child deaths, but also serious armed conflicts and crisis situations.

High-quality health services and varied nutrition provide a good foundation for a child’s life. Save the Children prevents child malnutrition and the resulting health problems, and provides immediate help when it is most needed. Children are the most vulnerable in armed conflicts, natural disasters and during a famine.

Our goal is to ensure that every child has access to comprehensive healthcare and high-quality nutrition.

What is done in our programs?

Ensuring access to healthcare.

In particular, we promote access to health services for pregnant women and children under the age of five. We will arrange health centers to remote areas and ensure accessibility of the centers.

Increasing parental awareness.

We educate parents, and especially mothers who are typically responsible for family nutrition, on the basics of quality nutrition that is vital to a child. We spread awareness about optimal nutritional practices and hygiene by training healthcare workers and community leaders through a variety of courses and TV shows.

Ensuring proper nutrition.

Together with local authorities, we map the people who face the most serious health threats through social security structures. We help families to apply for the benefits they deserve, such as child support. We guarantee the nutrition of the poorest families by cash and food transfers.

Supporting in crisis situations.

We guarantee the necessary healthcare and nutrition for children in serious situations where, for example, a family has had to leave their home and livelihood behind due to war or other disaster. We will set up clinics to provide health services to refugee camps and provide immediate food assistance.

Read more about our projects to ensure health and nutrition in our latest news.