Growing Up Healthy

Ensuring children’s survival, protection and healthy development

In Colombia, three out of every 100 children die before the age of five. Rural people see this tragedy as unavoidable and beyond their control, yet the majority of these deaths result from preventable and curable diseases. The most common illnesses that children suffer from are: diarrhoea, malaria, acute respiratory infections, measles, malnutrition and intestinal parasites.

As a result, Plan has been working with communities to raise awareness about the causes of infant mortality and childhood illnesses and the need for parents and communities to take preventative action. This work has included highlighting the importance of immunisation, the benefits of good nutrition and how to avoid respiratory infections in children. This was achieved by running workshops and training sessions involving community health volunteers and local health workers. Over 900 mothers also participated in the health care training and Plan supported a campaign to vaccinate 6,320 children.