Good health helps break poverty's grasp

Improving health in the world's poorest countries is a core priority for World Concern. Without good health, many of the ways we help people lift themselves out of poverty — education, income generation, vocational training and more — would be fruitless.

As the health of of a family is improved, children are able to attend school and parents are able to work. Clean water and nutritious food begin to have an impact on lives, and hope can be seen in the bright eyes of healthier children.

World Concern provides:

• Deworming medication to more than 3 million children per year
• Free or low-cost healthcare through urban medical clinics
• Vaccinations
• HIV and AIDS prevention and care
• Clean water, sanitation and hygiene education
• Response to health emergencies

Download a profile of our community health programs.

44 cents frees children from intestinal worms

With a solution that's pocket change — 44 cents — we believe there's no reason one-third of the world's children should have their health, futures and even their lives threatened by intestinal parasites.

You can stand in agreement with us on behalf of the children by learning more and contributing toward the cure.

Learn how we provide the 44 cent cure.

A young mother finds help for her sick child

As a teenager, Kabita dreamed of marriage and a happy family life. While working in a garment factory in Bangladesh, she met a man named Abdul, fell in love, and married him. Kabita soon found out that he already had wife and two sons, which devastated her.

Within a short time, he brought his first wife and sons to live with them, and by this time, Kabita was pregnant.

Kabita gave birth to a daughter and named her Jharna. When little Jharna was just a week old, she became jaundiced. Not knowing what to do, she tried the advice of her neighbor and rubbed red coloring on the baby's head. Jharna's condition got worse and Kabita became depressed and hopeless.

Read how Kabita and her baby received help.

Millions die preventable deaths in the developing world

• 23 million people with AIDS live in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Intestinal parasites infect roughly one-third of the world's children
• Parasites consume essential nutrients and cause anemia, malnutrition, skin disorders and stunted growth
• More than half a million women die every year of complications during pregnancy or childbirth; most of these deaths can be avoided with proper medical care
• Sources: UNAIDS, UNICEF, World Health Organization

Protecing health from the very start

Mothers, newborns and children are the most vulnerable to infectious diseases, malnutrition and other preventable conditions. We provide:

• Prenatal care and screenings
• Trained birthing attendants and "birth huts"
• Growth monitoring for infants and children
• Immunizations
• Supplementary feeding programs
• Home gardening and agricultural support

Download World Concern's health brochure for health professionals.