Children's Health
UNICEF works nonstop to help end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths by scaling up essential care services, increasing immunization coverage and strengthening health systems to better respond to outbreaks. Learn more.
Why children's health is a major focus of UNICEF's work
The world has achieved dramatic reductions in child mortality since 1990. Globally, the number of deaths of children under age 5 has dropped by 59 percent.
But progress has slowed, and there is much more work to be done. Tens of thousands of children still die every day from preventable or treatable causes related to lack of basic health care and other factors, such as poor nutrition and unsafe water. Many child deaths are the result of conflict and other humanitarian emergencies.
UNICEF believes in the right of every child to be healthy — to not only survive, but to thrive.
Related: How UNICEF Supports Maternal Health
How is UNICEF working to improve children's health?
Through its many public and private partnerships, and operating at the global, national and community levels, UNICEF engages in a number of activities, including:
Reducing under 5 child mortality
UNICEF works with partners to end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths by scaling up essential primary health care services and supporting community health workers and others on the front lines to help ensure access to those services
Vaccination
Another top priority for UNICEF is to strengthen immunization programs to make sure every child is reached with lifesaving vaccines.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
UNICEF's programs that improve access to safe, clean water and sanitation and promote and enable best hygiene practices like handwashing and toilet use help reduce the spread of diseases like cholera, ebola and mpox (monkeypox) in children.
Outbreak response
UNICEF helps communities and countries respond to disease outbreaks and build resilience within health systems to ensure that health services can continue, even during a crisis.
Early childhood development (ECD)
UNICEF works with partners to expand early childhood development programs to make sure babies are getting what they need for a healthy start in life.
Nutrition
Improving nutrition by supporting community programs including counseling for caregivers in best feeding practices goes a long way toward protecting children's health. UNICEF also supports expanding malnutrition screenings and treatment for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, which can be fatal.
Mental health
UNICEF also prioritizes supporting adolescent health and well-being — mental as well as physical — and ensuring equitable access to services for all, including children with disabilities.
HIV/AIDS
UNICEF has been working steadily with its partners around the world to expand access to HIV testing and treatment and prevent mother-to-child transmission to help advance toward an AIDS-free world.
Emergency relief
Safeguarding children's health is a major focus whenever UNICEF responds to an emergency, helping families and communities recover from a crisis or disaster.
Donate to UNICEF to help improve and sustain access to the quality health care vulnerable children need to get healthy — and stay healthy — so they can reach their full potential.
