Why a Child’s First 1,000 Days Matter

During her fourth pregnancy, Adjowa feared that she and her baby wouldn’t survive.

26 Nov, 2025

Her husband was unable to work after a serious accident and the family was living in extreme poverty in Togo, often only eating a meal every three or four days.

With no income and no access to medical care, Adjowa was malnourished and desperate. As her due date approached, she feared giving birth at home, alone, with no trained support.

“I thought my life was doomed and I would not survive,” she says.

Everything changed when Adjowa was connected to a local Compassion centre running a Mums and Babies program. The staff stepped in immediately, providing food parcels, covering her medical costs and ensuring she had essential supplies for her baby.

When she went into labour, the staff rushed her to the hospital. Her baby girl was born silent and unresponsive, but because the costs were covered and trained help was available, she could receive life-saving care.

“My daughter and I would not have made it if the Compassion centre had not helped. I am sure I would be dead by this time and my baby too,” says Adjowa.

Adjowa’s story is confronting, yet sadly not rare. It reflects the challenges faced by millions of mothers living in poverty and highlights how much is at stake during pregnancy, birth and the earliest days of a child’s life.

The first 1,000 days: a critical window

The first 1,000 days, from conception to a child’s second birthday, are a time of incredible vulnerability ... and immense potential. During this period, rapid brain and physical development occur. A child’s survival, immune system and long-term health are shaped by the nutrition, care and support they receive.

For mothers living in poverty, limited access to healthcare, poor nutrition, harmful cultural beliefs and a lack of support can lead to serious consequences for maternal health.

In 2023, sub-Saharan Africa recorded 454 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with just 3 per 100,000 in Australia and New Zealand. According to UNICEF, sub-Saharan Africa alone accounted for 70 per cent of global maternal deaths, mostly from preventable causes.

The risks for babies are equally stark. Babies born in sub-Saharan Africa are 11 times more likely to die than those born in Australia, and nearly one-third of births occur without a skilled birth attendant, according to the World Health Organisation.

Yet early intervention for babies can change everything. With the right support, a child born in poverty has a far greater chance not only to survive, but to thrive.

Why investing in a child’s earliest years changes everything

Kate Naliaka, Compassion International’s Global Health Advisor based in Kenya, has seen the impact of early intervention firsthand.

“We understand the importance of starting early and investing in child survival and early childhood because it is the foundation of lifelong health,” she says. “If the foundation is strong, a child is more likely to withstand stress later in life. If we don’t start early, we don’t reduce the burden of poverty and allow these children to reach their God-given potential.”

Poverty is multidimensional, affecting far more than a family’s income. It shapes every part of life. Without enough food, mothers become malnourished and babies are born underweight. Without support, harmful beliefs can take hold. In some communities, for example, mothers are told that the first breastmilk is dirty, so they delay breastfeeding and miss a vital source of early nutrition and immunity.

These layers of physical, emotional and social barriers combine to make pregnancy, birth and early childhood even more vulnerable for families living in poverty.

As Kate explains, that’s why Compassion’s intervention is holistic, supporting a mother and her baby physically, socio-emotionally, cognitively and spiritually.

“An educated mother is an empowered mother, and an empowered mother translates to an empowered family, community and society at large.”

Children who are nurtured holistically in their earliest years can grow up believing that change is possible and that they can break the cycle of poverty.

How Compassion supports mothers and babies holistically

Compassion's local church partners ensure mothers receive vital support during pregnancy and beyond, offering medical care, nutritional support, emotional and spiritual guidance, and a loving community.

Through home visits, peer group activities and community networks, new mums are not left to face the journey alone. When a mum joins the program, she receives:

• Home‑based care: Perinatal and postpartum support delivered in her own home, helping with health, nutrition and wellbeing.

• Advocacy and resources: Assistance to access skilled birth attendants, healthcare services and fair treatment.

• Community networks: Monthly group activities where mothers share, learn and encourage one another.

• Practical and life skills: Guidance in literacy, numeracy and small income-generating activities to build self-reliance.

Following the birth of her baby, the Compassion centre continues to be a place of refuge and joy for Adjowa. She has regained confidence and her faith has grown stronger.

“I still can’t believe the centre paid for all the medical expenses. I thought they would be tired of me as I am always in need,” Adjowa says.

“I will never forget what they have done for me. The centre workers and other mothers of the program have become my family. I’m so grateful to have them.”

It’s this kind of holistic support that inspires long-time Compassion supporters like Dr Virginia McPherson. A consultant radiologist based in Melbourne, Virginia has sponsored multiple children and funded entire Mums and Babies projects.

She has visited programs in the Philippines, Tanzania and Sri Lanka, seeing firsthand how they are transforming lives.

“I saw women receiving quality healthcare during pregnancy and guidance. They could go to hospital for safe deliveries, but it was more than that—each week, they gathered to connect, learn practical skills and build a community. They were no longer alone and their babies had regular check-ups.

“I was impressed by the care from the staff. They visited each mother regularly at home and supported them at the centre. I simply could not imagine raising my children in the conditions many of these women live in. The program provides rich, holistic care, lifting women above the poverty line while slowly healing the trauma they've endured. It was a privilege to see,” Virginia says.

A brighter future starts with survival

Every child, fearfully and wonderfully made, deserves the best possible start to life. As Psalm 139 reminds us, each of us is “knit together in our mother’s womb,” a reflection of God’s love from the very beginning.

Through the support of Compassion’s global neighbourhood, we continue to invest in the first 1,000 days, knowing how crucial they are to infant survival, early childhood development and lifelong health.

This is the measurable impact from the 2025 financial year:

• 37,841 babies and mums received care during pregnancy and the first year of life

• 14,228 babies were welcomed safely

• 93.2 per cent of babies were born at a healthy birthweight

• 80.3 per cent of women had a skilled birth attendant

• 90.6 per cent of mothers were able to breastfeed, helping prevent malnutrition

Your gift today makes a brighter future possible. It can help a mum and her baby not just survive but thrive. To support this life-changing work, visit Compassion Australia’s website.

Written by Bridget Hadfield, Compassion Australia, with local reporting by Akpene, Compassion Togo.