Newborn health

  LONDON/NEW YORK/BARCELONA, November 12, 2019 —Pneumonia claimed the lives of more than 800,000 children under the age of five last year, or one child every 39 seconds, according to a new analysis. Most deaths occurred among children under the age of two, and almost 153,000 within the first month of life. [1] Sounding the alarm about this…

Bringing together some of the world’s leading baby experts to help parents give their children the best start in life

Bringing together some of the world’s leading baby experts to help parents give their children the best start in life

Achieving health results for children requires strong local capacities. Without effective management to support evidence-based planning, frequent monitoring and prompt course correction, even the most promising health programmes and policies can go astray. Communities need well-trained local practitioners to implement effective, equitable health…, Our approach, Strengthens health information systems Improves the use of data in planning and management Improves accountability mechanisms within governments and with communities UNICEF’s approach to strengthening district health systems brings children closer to quality, affordable care and services. Our efforts help local health professionals better use…, Learn more

Equipping neonatal care units for mothers and babies.

In Mali’s Segou region, one in 20 newborn infants die within their first month of life, one of the highest rates in the world.

Every year, 2.6 million newborns around the world do not survive their first month of life.

Ensuring skin-to-skin contact between new babies and mothers in Serbia.

In recent decades, the world has made significant progress reducing newborn and maternal deaths. Between 1990 and 2022, the neonatal mortality rate has halved. But newborns and mothers – including adolescent mothers – are still dying in unacceptably large numbers – mostly from preventable or treatable causes, such as infectious diseases and…, UNICEF's response, Kaha Hassan plays with her one-year-old son Sudeys in Garissa county, Kenya. Kaha Hassan plays with her one-year-old son, Sudeys, in Garissa county, Kenya. All babies and mothers are entitled to affordable, high-quality health care before, during and after pregnancy. To make services accessible to all, UNICEF and partners adopted the Every Newborn…, Our advocacy, Learn about our work advocating for the health and well-being of children . , Resources, A Neglected Tragedy: The global burden of stillbirths , UNICEF Levels and trends in child mortality , UNICEF Ending preventable newborn deaths and stillbirths by 2030 , UNICEF Newborn Health in Humanitarian Settings Field Guide , Healthy Newborn Network Survive and Thrive: Transforming Care for Every Small and Sick Newborn , UNICEF Every Newborn…

Children, newborns and mothers have a greater chance of surviving today than they did just two decades ago. The world has witnessed a stunning reduction in child mortality. The latest available data shows that the number of children who died before their fifth birthday reached a historic low, dropping to 4.9 million in 2022.  In 2000, more than 9.…, Publications and resources, UNICEF's response, UNICEF is committed to addressing the needs of mothers, newborns and children, and ensuring they have access to affordable, quality health care, good nutrition and clean water.  We work closely with governments, partners and communities to combat common infectious childhood diseases and end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths. And we…, Maternal and newborn health, UNICEF and partners help save the lives of mothers, newborns and children and address preventable stillbirths by supporting high-quality, evidence-based, equitable and low-cost care and services before, during and after birth – at health facilities and at home. Similarly, UNICEF works to ensure that services are designed to enable families and…, Childhood diseases, Despite being entirely preventable and treatable, common infectious diseases still kill children in large numbers. UNICEF supports countries to provide preventative and curative services for pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria and other health conditions. Learn more, Immunization, UNICEF and partners support immunization programmes in over 100 countries to help children survive and lead healthy lives. Our efforts include engaging communities to create vaccine demand, procuring and distributing vaccines, and keeping vaccines safe and effective.  Learn more

HAVANA, Cuba – When Juan Carlos and María decided to start a family three years ago, they knew that there was only one way they would raise their children. “In order for a family to work it needs to be a team, and that means sharing all the tasks and responsibilities,” says Juan Carlos. As a first-time father, Juan Carlos didn’t yet know the ins…

New UNICEF report takes stock of maternal health