Health for children

"The contracting states recognize the child's right to the achievable maximum of health as well as to use facilities for the treatment of illnesses and to restore health," says Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Children.

In many countries there are efforts to implement this right to children. In recent years, the number of children who die before their fifth birthday has dropped from over eleven to around eight million. However, most children still fall victim to avoidable or treatable diseases: diarrhea, measles, malaria, polio, tuberculosis and AIDS. A child weakened by deficiency or malnutrition is not up to these diseases.

The first 1,000 days are crucial

In the first 1,000 days - from conception to the age of second - the diet is of central importance for the development of a child. The lack of important nutrients and food energy can affect the child's mental and physical development during pregnancy. The immune system of these children is weakened and they are more susceptible to diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria. 3.1 million children under the age of five die annually from the consequences of malnutrition. If you want to strengthen the health of mothers and children sustainably, you have to ensure your diet.
 

HIV broadcast from mother to child

In the first 1,000 days, the risk of children is greatest to infect themselves with the HI virus. In more than 90 percent of the infected children, the positive mother transfers the virus during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. 370,000 children are still infected with the HI virus every year-more than 1,000 children a day. If you stay untreated, more than half of them die in the first two years of life. Through medical care and advice, the risk of infection can be reduced to less than five percent.