It’s estimated that some 85 percent of childhood deaths are children under five, and almost half of those deaths occur within the critical first 28 days of life.
In all our medical and humanitarian projects worldwide, we ensure compassionate and comprehensive care for children. Numerous health threats disproportionately impact children, including malaria, malnutrition, and lack of access to essential early-life vaccinations. In response, we have devoted several medical projects, especially in low- and middle-income countries, to meeting these child health needs.
What health threats do children face around the world?
Many of the children treated by MSF arrive in critical condition or in the late stages of an illness. They are sick because they have not been adequately protected from disease or have not received appropriate treatment when they needed it.
Children’s health still has many gaps in appropriate drugs, tools, protocols, and staff. Some of the most common issues we see in our young patients include malnutrition, malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and physical and psychological trauma sustained in conflict zones.