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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 staggering 22 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.

Routine childhood vaccinations play a vital role in ensuring children live healthy and long lives. Donate today so that more children like Kila can grow up safe and strong.

Did you know that a child goes online for the first time every half second?

In today’s rapidly evolving world, digital literacy is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Yet, for many kids, particularly those living in remote communities or who might be the first ones in their family to be coming online, access to technology and the knowledge to navigate it safely remains a significant challenge.

With internet connectivity comes unprecedented opportunities for children to communicate, learn, socialise and play. But with these opportunities come serious risks. This is why educating children about online risks can be a game-changer.

ChildFund’s Swipe Safe program, our fun and easy face-to-face training program and app, supports children to navigate the online world with kindness, respect and safety. First launched in Vietnam in 2017, Swipe Safe has since reached 60,000 children and expanded to six other countries across the Asia-Pacific, including Cambodia, Timor-Leste, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Indonesia and Australia.

The program and curriculum also provide resources for parents, caregivers, teachers and child protection professionals so that they feel equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to support children’s online safety at home and in schools.

Keep reading to learn more about how we are working with students to improve their digital skills and take control of their online lives.

Empowering Cambodian Students Through Digital Literacy

From cyberbullying and harassment to misinformation and privacy violations, kids face a range of challenges online. For fourteen-year-old Solita from Cambodia, these aren’t abstract concepts; they are a reality her and her friends have experienced.

“My friend’s Facebook account was hacked, and they received bullying comments. Before, we wouldn’t have known what to do,” shares Solita. 

Recognising that simply providing access to technology isn’t enough, ChildFund, in partnership with the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, is preparing students like Solita with the skills they need to be safe online.

Student attending digital literacy lesson.

ChildFund’s “Improve Digital Competency in Education” project has brought vital digital literacy, financial literacy, and online safety curriculums to 17 schools in Phnom Penh and Kandal province reaching 20,000 students. By focusing on three key areas, including upgrading school digital facilities, strengthening teaching on online safety, and raising awareness about digital literacy, we are helping to bridge the digital divide and prepare students for the future.

As Bunhan, a Teach for Cambodia fellow, explains, “I didn’t realise the enormous consequences of online activity for young students before receiving ChildFund’s online safety training. Students can easily fall victim to cybercrime and online abuse. Many then do not know how to report. Now, I confidently share internet safety knowledge with my students and encourage them to report issues using the hotline numbers in their textbooks.”

Thanks to trainings led by teachers like Bunhan, Solita learned how to confidently and safely navigate the online world, and she then helped her friends do the same.

“After learning about online safety, I was able to help them. I told them how to block the hacker and remove the hurtful comments,” she explains.

As a school director, Sithy has seen firsthand the impact of digital literacy on her students. “Regardless of the specific digital skills,” she says. “It’s incredibly important. It improves students’ ability to learn about technology, which is essential in today’s world. It also prepares them for higher education and gives them the foundation for future success. When they go on to further studies, they’ll already have a strong grasp of computer technology.”

With your support, we are creating a safer and more enriching online environment for Cambodian students. By arming them with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world responsibly, we’re not only improving learning outcomes but also empowering a generation to become confident and informed digital citizens. It’s a testament to the power of investing in digital literacy and a crucial step towards ensuring that no child is left behind in the digital age.

Learn more about our work in Cambodia.