Six-month-old baby Kadijatu was sick with a fever. For too many children in Sierra Leone this treatable illness can cause death. Thankfully, Kadijatu's mother had access to a health clinic, so her daughter could receive treatment for her illness.
But Kadijatu is not alone. Every year, around 5.9 million children under the age of five die from preventable or curable diseases.
Kids shouldn't die from things like diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition.
The good news is we know what works to help stop preventable deaths of moms and kids. In the last two decades, the number of children under five who have died from preventable causes has dropped by more than 50%! Programs like the one that treated Kadijatu are helping moms and kids survive and thrive.
But without funding, these programs are at risk.
Right now, Congress is starting its work on the budget for next year. As they debate which programs to fund and which ones to cut, we need to raise our voices for children like Kadijatu.
Health and nutrition programs are too important for children to risk funding cuts. Please send a message to your members of Congress today to protect funding for these critical kids' programs.
Dear [Congress member],
Kids shouldn't die from things like diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition. Yet every day, 16,000 children under age 5 die from these and other preventable causes.
The good news is we know what works to help stop preventable deaths of moms and kids. In fact, with U.S. leadership over the last two decades, the number of children under five who have died from preventable causes has dropped by more than 50%!
To build on this progress, we urge you to increase funding the following programs:
USAID Maternal and Child Health Account: Funding for this account helped health workers treat nearly a billion cases of child diarrhea each year, provides more than 100 million children with basic immunizations, and treats 75 million infants and children with pneumonia. Additional funding is needed to address urgent issues such as addressing newborn deaths that result from preventable and treatable conditions, including prematurity or severe infections. It is also needed to build stronger, sustainable health systems. Please support funding for the Maternal and Child Health Account at $880 million.
USAID Nutrition in Global Health: This account helps kids access nutritious food to grow up healthy and prevent stunting. For example, in just three years, the U.S. helped Bangladesh reduce stunting in kids under 5 by 14% in specific regions. This year we are seeking a doubling of funding for nutrition as malnutrition continues to be the underlying cause of 45% of deaths in children under 5. Countries experiencing high malnutrition need continued U.S. support and resources. Please support funding for the Nutrition Account at $230 million.
These programs help kids around the world survive and thrive.
[Your comments here]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
