• Reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five.

Most Child Deaths can be Prevented
29,000 children under the age of five die every day - mainly from preventable diseases or conditions such as diarrhea, malaria, neonatal infection, pneumonia, preterm delivery, or lack of oxygen at birth. Some die in armed conflict, or from malnutrition. An ever-growing threat is HIV infection; mother-to-child transmission of HIV continues to be a major problem. Many of these lives can be saved through proper health care, such as vaccines, proper nutrition and hygiene, newborn care, and other preventive practices.

SOS Children’s Villages responds by:

• establishing and supporting mother and child centers to reduce the number of neonatal and infant deaths;
• employing health care and social workers to support better parenting, assist in disease prevention, and manage childhood illnesses;
• supporting families in difficult situations through family strengthening programs.