Every child deserves to be protected against preventable, life-threatening diseases.
Yet, every year countless children are going without access to the vaccinations they need to have healthy childhoods. It is estimated that 20 million children continue to go without access to life-saving childhood vaccinations each year. This is despite immunisation being one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions in the world saving 6 lives every minute since 1974.
There has been significant progress across the world in closing the gap on childhood vaccinations; however, for children in the world’s most marginalised communities, vaccinations are still not always available, accessible, or affordable. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the largest sustained backslide in childhood immunisation in 30 years with 67 million children missing out on routine childhood vaccinations. Concurrently, we’ve seen vaccination hesitancy grow throughout the pandemic leading to a decline in public perception on the importance of childhood vaccines in many countries.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a staggering22 million children missed their first measles vaccine in 2023. This can lead to a range of serious complications, including ear infections and pneumonia, as well as long-term health problems, including blindness and deafness. For some, contracting measles can even lead to death.
Vaccines help save lives. But a single-shot is not enough. The future of immunisation means not only reaching millions of unvaccinated children, but protecting entire communities. What does this look like? A world where grandparents are vaccinated against influenza, babies from malaria and RSV, pregnant mothers from tetanus, and young girls from HPV.
This World Immunisation Week, join us in promoting the importance of vaccines to protect people of all ages against life-threatening but preventable diseases, such as diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and measles. Donate today to support all children living in poverty to access life-saving childhood vaccinations.
A health crisis on Australia’s doorstep
Australia’s closest neighbour, Papua New Guinea (PNG), has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the region. In recent years, the country has seen the re-emergence of previously eradicated diseases such as polio due to critically low vaccination rates and the emergence of vaccine resistant strains of the virus.
Low vaccination rates in PNG are a result of a variety of factors, including:
Long distances between rural communities and health centres alongside high transportation costs making it difficult for people living in remote communities to access health facilities.
An under-resourced health system, which has led to staff shortages, long wait times and inadequately trained staff.
The reliance of remote communities on government-led mobile outreach programs that are often impacted by funding shortfalls, broken vehicles, or low vaccine stocks.
How ChildFund is helping to improve childhood immunisation rates in PNG
When I heard that the ChildFund team were coming to my village, I was excited and immediately rearranged my daily chores so that I could attend the mobile clinic. This was a great opportunity for my family and I to receive medicine, especially for my youngest child, Kila, to get immunised.
Mrs Abadi, a mum of nine living in a remote village in Central Province in PNG
ChildFund’s Mobile Health Clinics have had a profound impact on the ability of people living in remote communities to access much needed healthcare facilities. The clinics provide a one stop shop for a variety of health services, including vaccinations, maternal healthcare, and tuberculosis treatment, enabling people in remote communities to receive the healthcare they need without travelling long distances to nearest health clinic.
Since 2022, ChildFund Papua New Guinea in partnership with the Provincial Health Authorities in Central and Northern Provinces has delivered 16,545 vaccines to children living in remote and rural communities. ChildFund PNG has also trained 257 volunteers on how to provide vaccinations for preventable and treatable diseases like tuberculosis, polio and COVID-19.
For women like Mrs Abadi, who lives with her nine children and husband in a remote village in Central Province in PNG, ChildFund’s mobile clinics are a lifeline. Previously, she had to travel long distances to the nearest health facility to ensure her family got the healthcare they needed.
“In the past, it was incredibly difficult for me to bring my children to the Kwikila Health Facility due to the poor road conditions and the unaffordable transport fares,”
“When I heard that the ChildFund team were coming to my village, I was excited and immediately rearranged my daily chores so that I could attend the mobile clinic. This was a great opportunity for my family and I to receive medicine, especially for my youngest child, Kila, to get immunised,” Mrs Abadi shared.
Mr Abadi added that the ChildFund team also shared information on different health topics, some of which were new to her and would help her to keep her family safe and healthy.
“I am grateful for the outreach health services that provide immunisations, as I know that this has been instrumental in keeping Kila safe from the sicknesses I hear about in awareness messages from ChildFund,” Mrs Abadi added.
When Siti* welcomed her seventh child, Amara*, her only daughter, she was filled with a mix of joy and deep fear. After suffering the heartbreaking loss of her stillborn baby before Amara, she feared history might repeat itself. Would Amara survive?
Siti and her husband, Agus*, live in a remote village on the island of Sumba, in East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. They grow a variety of crops – rice, mangoes, bananas, corn, cassava and taro root –to sustain their family. On good days, when the harvest is plentiful, there is a little extra to sell. Siti also weaves traditional cotton cloth to contribute to the family’s income.
From the start, Amara was a fragile baby, but her health began to deteriorate when Siti weaned her at six months and introduced solid foods, like rice and bananas. By the time Amara turned 10 months old, she was diagnosed with moderate acute malnutrition during a routine health check-up.
“Amara was so sick. She was having diarrhea. She had no energy. She was very thin. She was malnourished because I could not afford to buy good food for her,” Siti recalls. “I felt hopeless. At that time, I was hoping Amara would survive. Another child in the village had just died from malnutrition.”
After Amara’s diagnosis, a facilitator from ChildFund’s local partner organisation, Sumba Integrated Development, reached out to Siti. Through this partnership, Siti attended ChildFund’s responsive parenting classes. Here, she learned how to improve sanitation and hygiene at home, the vital importance of play and communication, and how to prepare nourishing meals from the foods grown in her own garden. Moringa leaves, which grow plentifully in the village, have become a key ingredient in her cooking.
Siti feeding her daugher, Amara, a nutrient-dense porridge dish with local ingredients.
Through the program, local facilitators also helped Siti navigate government services, allowing her to access a small stipend for nutritious food. Many families miss out on this support due to lack of awareness or difficulty with the paperwork. With this extra income, Siti prioritises buying fish and eggs for Amara when she can. Amara’s progress is closely monitored at the monthly ChildFund-supported parenting sessions. Although her weight has improved, she is still not fully recovered from the devastating effects of malnutrition.
“I want to continue to go to these parenting classes until Amara grows up,” says Siti. “Amara looks so much happier than my older children. I wish I had that knowledge earlier in life.”
Understanding Malnutrition and Undernutrition
The terms “malnutrition” and “undernutrition” are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different things. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition is an umbrella term that refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. In fact, it encompasses both undernutrition and overnutrition. Here’s what each one means:
What is Malnutrition?
Malnutrition refers to a situation where a person’s diet is either lacking in essential nutrients, contains too much of certain foods, or is imbalanced in some way. It can result in both undernutrition (not getting enough nutrients) and overnutrition (getting too many nutrients, often in the form of excess calories).
What is Undernutrition?
Undernutrition is a type of malnutrition, specifically referring to a deficiency in calories, protein, and/or essential vitamins and minerals. People who are undernourished don’t get enough of the nutrients they need to stay healthy and grow properly.
There are a few key signs of undernutrition:
Stunting: When children don’t grow tall enough for their age due to a lack of nutrients.
Wasting: When someone’s weight is too low for their height, often due to severe lack of food or illness.
Underweight: When a person’s weight is too low for their age or height.
Micronutrient Deficiencies: A lack of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A or iron, which can lead to serious health issues.
Undernutrition can result from various factors like poverty, limited access to healthy food or illness. It’s a global issue that affects millions, particularly in low-income countries.
Why It Matters
Undernutrition weakens the immune system, stunts growth and can lead to developmental delays in children. It also increases the risk of diseases and even death in severe cases. By understanding the difference between malnutrition and undernutrition, we can better address the causes and work toward a healthier future for everyone, including kids like Amara.
A nutrient-dense dish of rice and banana to help young children like Amara grow healthy and strong.
The Broader Impact of Malnutrition on Children
Malnutrition doesn’t just stem from food shortages – it’s tied to deeper issues like poverty, conflict, climate change and inequality.
Climate change is reducing crop yields, making food less accessible.
Conflict displaces families, disrupting food supplies and worsening malnutrition.
Mass migration forces families into unstable living conditions with limited access to nutrition.
Economic hardship puts vulnerable children, like Amara, at greater risk of malnutrition.
Chronic undernutrition leads to stunting, impairing cognitive development and overall health.
Malnourished children often suffer from conditions like anaemia and weakened immunity. You may notice they have bloated bellies – this is often a sign of protein deficiency, causing fluid retention.
Preventing and Identifying Malnutrition
Early intervention is key to preventing long-term damage. Here’s how we can stop malnutrition before it starts:
Growth monitoring to track weight, height and development.
Vitamin supplements to prevent deficiencies.
Deworming to improve nutrient absorption.
Vaccinations to protect children from infections that weaken their health.
Prenatal check-ups to ensure mothers get proper nutrition, preventing low birthweight and undernutrition in newborns.
Infant and child feeding programs to educate parents on proper nutrition for young children.
These efforts don’t just help individual children – they contribute to reducing global malnutrition rates.
How Fundraising and International Development Programs Help
Ending malnutrition requires a collective, global effort. Through fundraising and international development programs, we can expand access to nutrition programs, improve maternal health and support community-based interventions.
Global initiatives focus on:
Severe malnutrition treatment: Expanding access to therapeutic feeding programs.
Food security projects: Supporting sustainable agriculture to prevent crop failures.
Education on malnutrition and development: Raising awareness of the long-term effects of poor nutrition.
By addressing the root causes of malnutrition – poverty, food insecurity and inadequate healthcare – we can improve the lives of millions of malnourished children worldwide.
How Many Children Are Malnourished in the World?
According to the latest malnutrition estimates, millions of children still suffer from undernutrition, requiring urgent action:
Stunting (low height-for-age): In 2022, approximately 148.1 million children under five were stunted, representing 22.3% of this age group.
Wasting (low weight-for-height): In the same year, about 45 million children under five were wasted, accounting for 6.8% of children in this age bracket.
Overweight: Additionally, 37 million children under five were overweight in 2022, which is 5.6% of the global under-five population.
These statistics underscore the urgent need for comprehensive nutrition programs, increased awareness, and advocacy to combat child malnutrition worldwide.
By supporting nutrition programs, spreading awareness and advocating for policies that address malnutrition and development, we can create a world where no child suffers from the devastating effects of hunger.
How You Can Help Malnourished Children
If you want to help prevent malnutrition and improve the lives of malnourished children, consider:
Raising awareness about the causes of malnutrition by sharing this article
Together, we can create change. By addressing malnutrition and undernutrition, we’re helping children like Amara build a strong foundation for their future. Every action we take, from supporting nutrition programs to raising awareness, plays a part in breaking the cycle of poverty and poor health.
With your support, more children will have access to the nourishment they need to grow healthier and more resilient.
