Skip to main content
Rho IDP site, Northeastern Congo
War in Gaza:: find out how we're responding
Learn more
Without adequate care, a child’s earliest years can be the most deadly in many low-resource countries.

The health risks for children are more severe the younger the child: as a global average, 85 per cent of childhood deaths occur in children less than five years old, but 47 per cent of those deaths are in the newborn period – the first 28 days of life.

Children under 15 years of age make up more than 60 per cent of patients in our projects, and many arrive in a critical condition or in the late stages of an illness. They are sick because they have not been adequately protected from disease or received appropriate treatment when they needed it. There are still many gaps in appropriate drugs, tools, protocols and staff for treating these young patients.

These are all factors why children under five in low- and middle-income countries continue to lose their lives to infectious diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria, and why newborns are failing to survive their first few days. This is also why older children face poor health long-term, if not death, due to chronic illnesses such as diabetes and epilepsy.

Quick facts about child health

WCD 2023

World Children’s Day 2023: Five wishes from MSF

msf.org.uk

Children are disproportionately affected by humanitarian crises, both directly – for example through the impact of conflict and disasters – as well as indirectly – through heightened vulnerability to consequences such as malnutrition and disease outbreaks.

For World Children’s Day 2023, we want to share with you our ‘wishlist’ for children and some of the work MSF is doing towards these goals. While some of the wishes may seem basic, the sad truth is that large numbers of children are currently facing failures in these areas. We strive to transform these wishes into a tangible reality for children in some of the most challenging environments.

Read our wishlist
Katiola program: Saving mothers and children’s life in Cote d’Ivoire

MSF Paediatric Days

paediatrics.msf.org

Paediatric Days is an event for paediatric field staff, policy makers and academics to exchange ideas, align efforts, inspire and share frontline research to advance urgent paediatric issues of direct concern for the humanitarian field. Paediatric Days focuses on paediatrics because in humanitarian settings, children are the most vulnerable group, with the highest risk of disease and mortality. Visit the Paediatric Days website to learn more.

Visit MSF Paediatric Days website
 
Aweil Hospital, South Sudan
South Sudan

Paediatric care and treating malnutrition in Aweil

Project Update 9 Jun 2016
 
Leer & Thonyor - May 2016
Child health

First MSF Paediatric days to be organised in Stockholm

Event 8 Jun 2016
 
TANZANIA: ONE YEAR OF TURMOIL FOR BURUNDIAN REFUGEES
Tanzania

One year of turmoil for Burundian refugees

Project Update 1 Jun 2016
 
Niger: MSF response to meningitis, measles and cholera outbreaks
Niger

MSF teams respond to two epidemics and ward off a third

Project Update 26 May 2016
 
Mothers in MSF clinic, Idomeni Greece.
Greece

MSF resumes activities in Idomeni after clashes and tear gas cause a temporary suspension

Project Update 19 May 2016
 
DRC: MSF respond to a massive malaria outreak in Pawa and Boma-Mangbetu
Photo Story

An unusual and deadly malaria outbreak in the north east of the Democratic Republic of Congo

18 May 2016
Photo Story
 
DRC: MSF respond to a massive malaria outreak in Pawa and Boma-Mangbetu
Democratic Republic of Congo

MSF responds to a particularly deadly outbreak of malaria in the north east of the country

Crisis Update 17 May 2016
 
Idomeni
Mediterranean migration

The mismanagement and poor planning Europe is demonstrating is beyond belief

Project Update 12 May 2016
 
Emergency intervention in Bambouti (CAR)
Central African Republic

Thousands of South Sudanese refugees living in deplorable conditions

Project Update 11 May 2016
Advanced HIV management in Homa Bay
Medical Resource

MSF Field Research

We produce important research based on our field experience. So far, we have published articles in over 100 peer-reviewed journals. These articles have often changed clinical practice and have been used for humanitarian advocacy. All of these articles can be found on our dedicated Field Research website.

Visit site