Dr Anita Harish provides a check up in Save the Children’s Mobile Health Clinic
Ashraf, 4 months, is treated for diarrhoea at Save the Children’s Mobile Health Clinic.
Photo credit: Tom Pietrasik/Save the Children
Photo credit: Rachel Palmer/Save the Children
The Asian Awards has teamed up with Save the Children to raise money for vulnerable children across India and the sub-continent. Thomas Chandy, CEO of Save the Children in India said: "India has the distinction of having a strong growing economy despite a bleak global scenario. Yet, nearly two million children under the age of five are still dying in the country every year. Save the Children's EVERY ONE campaign is about showing that we all have a part to play in saving children's lives. We are delighted to partner with the Asian Awards, recognising the important role that Asians can play in turning a corner in the number of child deaths on their continent once and for all. This is why The Asian Awards is supporting the important work of the EVERYONE campaign. We'll be raising money before, during and after the event to raise money to enable Save the Children to safeguard children from preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition."
If you'd like to support the important work of Save the Children, please visit www.savethechildren.org.uk
No child is born to die, but 8 million children under five die every year from illnesses we know how to treat or prevent, such as diarrhoea and pneumonia. In the 21st century, this is utterly wrong.
We have made progress. The number of children dying has fallen: its come down from about 12 million a year in 1990 to just over 8 million a year in 2010. Immunisations alone are saving 2.5 million children annually.
But, with a child still dying every four seconds, this is simply not enough.
Save the Children works in more than 120 countries. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential.
The Asian Awards continue to support the vital work of Save the Children by raising much needed funds to help the most vulnerable in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Last year's event raised over £100,000 for Save the Children. These funds are being used to buy, equip and run a brand new Mobile Health Clinic in West Bengal, India, providing 55 of the most under-served villages and over 38,000 people with life-saving basic healthcare.
The Mobile Health Unit is fitted with all of the basic facilities required to examine patients and is staffed by a physician who is experienced in delivering primary maternal and child health care, as well as paramedical and support staff. Together, thanks to your support, they will help make the difference between life and death for thousands of children.
Last year, funds were also raised to support Save the Children's response to the devastating floods in Pakistan. To date, Save the Children has reached nearly 3 million children and their families with urgent assistance across all four affected provinces. With the onslaught of winter, the disaster is far from over and Save the Children continues to reach thousands of families with medical care, hygiene kits, food and supplies.
The Asian Awards and Save the Children are thrilled to be working together again this year and would like to thank all who attended last year's event for their incredible support.
Alia, his mother, says that, 'coming to the mobile health clinic has been beneficial because we now get free medication and we don't have to travel too far for the treatment. We get comfort quickly, and this is why it helps'.
Pneumonia and diarrhoea kill almost three times more under-fives than malaria and HIV combined, amounting to over 4000 a day for pneumonia and nearly the same for diarrhoea.
