Early childhood is an extremely critical time for children and sets the stage for their future well being. Without a healthy start, a child’s chances of normal development are limited.

Tragically, in our world today almost 10 million children die every year before their fifth birthday, mostly from preventable causes.

These preventable causes include:

• Pneumonia

• Diarrhoea

• Malnutrition

• Malaria

• Measles

• HIV/ AIDS

• Birth complications.

Research shows that significant development takes place during the first five years of life. Without a healthy start, a child’s chances of normal development are severely limited. Therefore, addressing the issues of child mortality, malnutrition, preventable disease and providing healthy early childhood development are critical to releasing children from poverty.