Defeating Childhood Diseases

More children are reaching their fifth birthday than ever before. However, millions still die each year because they lack access to medicines that cost less than a few dollars. Over half of these deaths could be easily prevented or treated with simple, timely, and affordable interventions.

A Summary of the Challenge in Numbers

Diarrhoea

Malaria

Pneumonia

Our Response & Impact

Living Goods trains and supports community health workers (CHWs) to address the leading causes of child mortality: malaria, diarrheal disease, and pneumonia. We focus on children under five, particularly newborns and children under one, who are typically at greatest risk.

When a child falls ill, CHWs provide prompt assessment, diagnosis, and treatment at the household level, or referral of moderate and severe cases to higher-level health facilities for further management.

CHWs’ smartphone app guides them to conduct an accurate diagnosis and sets tasks to complete, such as reminding them to follow up on all referrals within 48 hours to ensure the patients received proper care. CHWs also provide health education to families about water, sanitation, and proper nutrition, and ensuring caregivers seek care promptly when children are sick.

In 2023 alone, the CHWs we support provided 2.8 million under-five sick child treatments or referrals.

Ugandan CHW Scovia is working to ensure children receive uninterrupted care.

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