In developing communities, the first five years of life are often the most difficult and challenging. Of the 17,000 children under age 5 who die each day, 73 percent die before their first birthday — nearly half within the first 28 days of life. Compassion established the Child Survival Program in 2003 because we believe these obstacles to healthy development can be removed and because all children deserve to be given the best chance to reach their God-given potential.
Having a trained attendant at the time of birth is one of the most effective means of ensuring survival. Sadly, only 33 percent of births are attended among the world’s poorest. Today, we are happy to report that within Compassion programs, an attendant is present at more than 90 percent of births.
Intervening in the earliest stages of life, even before birth, is critical to saving lives and preventing needless suffering. In partnership with the local church, the Child Survival Program works with new and expectant mothers in their homes to ensure the health of her baby through:
- growth monitoring
- oral rehydration therapy
- breast feeding support
- nutrition
- immunizations
In many areas where we work, mothers are raising children and supporting their families in desperate situations — either alone or in dangerous environments. The program also offers female literacy activities, family planning education and job skills training to appropriately care and support her family.
Despite seeing great success in this program, it is only offered by approximately 800 of our nearly 7,000 partner churches. We are seeking resources to implement the Child Survival Program in at least 50 percent of church-based Compassion centers. That means we want to equip approximately 3,200 more churches, each supporting a minimum of 35 moms and their babies, with the skills and equipment to help babies survive their first year of life. To achieve this goal, we project needing $180 million over the next 5 years.
Babies: The Child Survival Program