World Vision is committed to improving the health and nutrition of women and children in the areas in which it works, contributing to the global reduction of under-five and maternal mortality.
Good health is the foundation of a child’s life. World Vision aims to ensure mothers and children are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have good access to essential health services.
Read about the World Vision 7-11 Health Strategy.
Take a look at the 2011 World Vision Health Review.
Areas of Our Work
Maternal and Child Health: Our Maternal and Child Health strategy focuses on evidence-based, cost-effective preventive practices that address the primary causes of maternal and child mortality and illness. Our core emphasis is on pregnant women, newborn and children under the age of two because the greatest burden of mortality, illness and undernutrition lies in these groups.
Nutrition: The first 1,000 days—from conception to age 2—determine the course of a child’s life. The right food and nutrients in this critical period are essential to good brain function, muscle and organ growth, and a strong immune system. We focus on a handful of nutrition-related interventions for both mothers and children to help save millions of lives.
Infectious disease: Pneumonia and diarrhea are the two biggest killers of children under 5, while malaria remains a major killer in sub-Saharan Africa. Preventing and swiftly treating these diseases is the best way to eradicate them— and we work to help achieve this.
Water, sanitation and hygiene: Unsafe water and sanitation is a major cause of diarrhoea, the second biggest killer of children around the world. Safe water and sanitation can mean the difference between life and death for millions of children every year. Our work provides access, increases awareness and coordinates with local governments to supply essential services.
Community health workers: These local health care staff and volunteers are critical to achieving good health and nutrition for mothers and their children, especially in rural households and communities where the majority of the world’s poorest children live and die. We are committed to supporting 100,000 community health workers across the world.
HIV and AIDS: More than just a health crisis, HIV and AIDS affect every dimension of social and economic life, robbing children of parents, contributing to maternal and child mortality, devastating workforces and undermining economies. Our work focuses on the children left most vulnerable by the pandemic and on preventing transmission from mothers to babies.
Speaking out: Encouraging and enabling families and communities to identify the barriers to good health where they live, and to hold their local leaders and government accountable to deliver their part.
Child Health Now: Through our global advocacy campaign, we seek to encourage and equip families and communities to identify the barriers to good health where they live and to hold their local leaders and government accountable to deliver their part. World Vision also actively advocates for greater commitment to and improved policies and programmes for maternal and child health and nutrition.
Partnership: No one government or organization can solve issues that contribute to child mortality. It takes partnership to achieve lasting results. We partner with communities, local and international organisations, governments and donors to help reduce maternal and child mortality.
Contact the Global Health Team: health@wvi.org.