We have a historic opportunity to dramatically decrease child mortality. Under President Obam's Global Health Initiative, USAID will work with other U.S. government agencies and global leaders in child health to save 5 million children between 2010 and 2015 by focusing our efforts on the major killers in approximately two dozen high-burden countries. Together, we will save lives and create a generation of healthy kids by ensuring a healthy start to life and ending preventable child deaths.

A Global Problem

• Over 2 million die in developing countries because of lack of access to vaccines
• Pneumonia is the single biggest killer of children under 5
• 1.3 million children die every year from diarrheal diseases.
• There are 1.4 million pregnant women living with HIV
• 3.7 million newborns die in the first 4 weeks of birth each year.
• Children born less than three years apart are less likely to survive & more likely to be malnourished during infancy & childhood through age five.
• Malnutrition is associated with 35% of child deaths.
• Over 700,000 malaria deaths in 2009, mainly African children.

Our targeted interventions can save 5 million children by 2015

Immunizations/Vaccines

• A simple shot can save a child for life
• We are: Working with partners to make vaccines available and affordable for all.

Mother-to-child-HIV:

• We can create an AIDS free generation

Pneumonia & Diarrhea:

• Newborn death isn't inevitable, its preventable.
• We are vaccinating kids to prevent sickness and death; Improving sanitation and hygiene to prevent children from getting sick and treating kids who are sick.

Newborn Mortality

• We can give children a healthy start to live.
• We are: focusing on simple, effective delivery methods; Emphasizing breast feeding and keeping newborns warm and helping babies suffering from asphyxia during birth.

Nutrition:

• Nutrition creates the foundation for lifelong health.
• We are: Boosting nutrition from pregnancy to two-years old; Targeting micronutrient supplementation like Vitamin A and supporting exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months.

Malaria

• A major killer of children is both preventable and curable
• We are: providing more long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and increasing indoor residual spraying to under served populations.

Family Planning;

• Family planning helps moms and babies grow healthy.
• We are: Educating women on the benefits of spacing pregnancy; Ensuring contraception is accessible and Targeting resources where they're most needed.