Every 3 seconds, one child loses their life. They don't have a choice, but you do. Choose LIFE.
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you
and your children may live”
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV)
One of the world's greatest hidden epidemics
More than 500,000 women die in pregnancy or childbirth every year in the developing world due to lack of proper care. About 70,000 who die are aged 15 to 19. Having a child in a developing country is one of the most severe health risks for women.
The reasons are multiple, but the root cause may lie in the disadvantaged position of women in many countries. Among the obstacles to better maternal health outcomes are a lack of access to healthcare and education where societies value boys more than girls. In some cultures, girls become child brides through arranged marriages. Their bodies are not developed enough to give birth safely and those who survive, have too many children too quickly. There is also a lack of attention to women’s rights (ability to have a say) in these societies.
(ref: Unicef’s annual state of the world’s children report).
More than medical intervention is needed to save the lives of mothers and newborns. Educating girls is pivotal to improving maternal and neonatal health and benefits families and societies. These educated girls will have fewer children, earn an income and are less likely to marry young. They will have a greater impact on their future children and generations.
Every minute 21 children under the age of five die
A child born in one of the least-developed countries is nearly 14 times more likely to die within the first 28 days of life than one in an industrialised country such as NZ. The six main killers of children are diarrhoea, malaria, neonatal infection, pneumonia, preterm delivery, or lack of oxygen at birth. Malnutrition and HIV/AIDs also contribute to child deaths as well as their mother dying in childbirth.
How you can make a difference with TEAR Fund
TEAR Fund is working with the local Church and Christian partners in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. We are providing support to help save the lives of babies and mothers in poverty in the following ways:
Improving nutrition and supplements for both mother and child
Mothers are offered supplemental foods and nutrients such as vitamin A, iodised salt and high-energy milk. Malnutrition makes children very vulnerable, contributing to more than a third of all child deaths.
Access of healthcare facilities
Prenatal and postnatal care, regular checkups, monitoring, and ongoing healthcare are provided for mother and baby.
Access to immunisations against preventable diseases
After one month and up to five years of age, the top killers of children are pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, measles and HIV.
Infant survival training for mothers
Both mothers and their babies are vulnerable in the first few weeks immediately after birth. They need postnatal visits, proper hygiene and counselling about the danger signs they need to be aware of for themselves and for their baby.
Education & income generating skills
Mothers learn parenting skills, HIV/AIDS care, the prevention of HIV transmission, breastfeeding, immunisation and family planning. They also receive training in entrepreneurial skills and adult literacy. When you improve the literacy of a mother, you can change future generations, as they are more likely to invest back into their own community.
Family planning
Education on how numerous children can impact the mother’s body to recover and recuperate between pregnancies.
Emergency situations
In crisis situations, TEAR Fund provides basic essentials needed to ensure the survival of mothers and children such as water, sanitation and healthcare.
and give mothers and children the chance to choose LIFE. Click here
