Facts for Life saves lives!
Every
year, nearly 11 million children die from preventable causes before
reaching their fifth birthday. Millions more survive only to face
diminished futures, unable to develop to their full potential.
Many
of these deaths can be avoided if parents and caregivers understand
what to do when illness strikes and how to recognize the danger signs
that signal the need for medical help. Facts for Life presents, in
simple language, the most authoritative information about practical,
effective and low-cost ways to protect children's lives and health.
Everyone has the right to know this information.
Since it was
first published in 1989, Facts for Life has become one of the world's
most popular books, with more than 15 million copies in use in 215
languages in 200 countries. The book is co-published by UNICEF, WHO,
UNESCO, UNFPA, UNDP, UNAIDS, WFP and the World Bank.
This
revised edition of Facts for Life has updated information on the major
causes of childhood illnesses and death, including HIV/AIDS,
Emergencies and Accidents. You can access the complete Facts for Life
content on this website, as well as the PDF and text-only versions.
We urge everyone to share and use these health messages to help save children's lives.
What is Facts for Life?
* Foreword
* The purpose of Facts for Life
* The structure of Facts for Life
* Essential Facts for Life messages
* A guide for communicating Facts for Life
* Glossary
Foreword
Every
year, nearly 11 million children die from preventable causes before
reaching their fifth birthday, many of them during the first year of
life. Millions more survive only to face diminished lives, unable to
develop to their full potential.
This terrible toll in human
suffering and forgone prosperity can be vastly reduced. Three fourths
of all child visits to health facilities for medical care and 7 out of
10 childhood deaths result from just five causes: pneumonia, diarrhoea,
measles, malaria and malnutrition. The knowledge and capacity to
prevent and treat all five causes exist.
Facts for Life aims to
make life-saving knowledge easily available to everyone. It presents
the most important facts that people have a right to know to prevent
child deaths and diseases, and to protect women during pregnancy and
childbirth. Its messages are simple, and people in every corner of the
world can act on them.
Published by UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNDP, UNAIDS, WFP and the
World Bank, Facts for Life can save many lives – if its messages reach
their intended audience. We urge all communicators – health workers,
the media, government officials, non-governmental organizations,
teachers, religious leaders, employers, trade unions, women's groups,
community organizations and others – to join in a common cause to
protect all children.
Carol Bellamy
Executive Director
United Nations Children's Fund
Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland
Director-General
World Health Organization
Koichiro Matsuura
Director-General
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Thoraya Ahmed Obaid
Executive Director
United Nations Population Fund
Mark Malloch Brown
Administrator
United Nations Development Programme
Dr. Peter Piot
Executive Director
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
Catherine Bertini
Executive Director
World Food Programme
James D. Wolfensohn
President
The World Bank
The purpose of Facts for Life
Facts for Life aims to provide
parents and other caregivers with the information they need to save and
improve children's lives. The challenge is to ensure that everyone
knows and understands these facts and is motivated to put them into
practice.
The messages contained in Facts for Life are based on
the latest scientific findings, as established by medical experts
around the world. These facts are presented in non-technical language
so they can be understood and acted upon easily by people who do not
have a scientific background. Doing so can save lives.
Everyone
can help communicate the Facts for Life messages – health workers,
teachers, students, government officials, radio broadcasters,
journalists, community workers, religious leaders and people in all
walks of life – young and old, family members, friends and neighbours,
men, women and children.
The structure of Facts for Life
Facts for Life consists of 13
chapters, each dealing with one major cause of childhood illness and
death. Every chapter has three parts: an introduction, several key
messages and supporting information.
The introduction is a brief
and powerful 'call to action'. It summarizes the extent of the problem
and why taking action is so important. The introduction aims to inspire
people to get involved and share the information widely. The
introduction can be used to motivate political leaders and the mass
media.
The key messages, addressed to parents and other
caregivers, are the essence of Facts for Life. They contain the
essential information that people need to protect their children. The
key messages are clear, brief and practical, so people can easily
understand them and take the recommended action. These messages are
meant to be communicated often and in various ways.
The
supporting information elaborates on the key messages, providing
additional details and advice. This information is particularly useful
for health workers or anyone who wants to know more. It can also be
used to answer caregivers' questions.
Every
year, nearly 11 million children die from preventable causes before
reaching their fifth birthday. Millions more survive only to face
diminished futures, unable to develop to their full potential.
Many
of these deaths can be avoided if parents and caregivers understand
what to do when illness strikes and how to recognize the danger signs
that signal the need for medical help. Facts for Life presents, in
simple language, the most authoritative information about practical,
effective and low-cost ways to protect children's lives and health.
Everyone has the right to know this information.
Since it was
first published in 1989, Facts for Life has become one of the world's
most popular books, with more than 15 million copies in use in 215
languages in 200 countries. The book is co-published by UNICEF, WHO,
UNESCO, UNFPA, UNDP, UNAIDS, WFP and the World Bank.
This
revised edition of Facts for Life has updated information on the major
causes of childhood illnesses and death, including HIV/AIDS,
Emergencies and Accidents. You can access the complete Facts for Life
content on this website, as well as the PDF and text-only versions.
We urge everyone to share and use these health messages to help save children's lives.
What is Facts for Life?
* Foreword
* The purpose of Facts for Life
* The structure of Facts for Life
* Essential Facts for Life messages
* A guide for communicating Facts for Life
* Glossary
Foreword
Every
year, nearly 11 million children die from preventable causes before
reaching their fifth birthday, many of them during the first year of
life. Millions more survive only to face diminished lives, unable to
develop to their full potential.
This terrible toll in human
suffering and forgone prosperity can be vastly reduced. Three fourths
of all child visits to health facilities for medical care and 7 out of
10 childhood deaths result from just five causes: pneumonia, diarrhoea,
measles, malaria and malnutrition. The knowledge and capacity to
prevent and treat all five causes exist.
Facts for Life aims to
make life-saving knowledge easily available to everyone. It presents
the most important facts that people have a right to know to prevent
child deaths and diseases, and to protect women during pregnancy and
childbirth. Its messages are simple, and people in every corner of the
world can act on them.
Published by UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNDP, UNAIDS, WFP and the
World Bank, Facts for Life can save many lives – if its messages reach
their intended audience. We urge all communicators – health workers,
the media, government officials, non-governmental organizations,
teachers, religious leaders, employers, trade unions, women's groups,
community organizations and others – to join in a common cause to
protect all children.
Carol Bellamy
Executive Director
United Nations Children's Fund
Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland
Director-General
World Health Organization
Koichiro Matsuura
Director-General
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Thoraya Ahmed Obaid
Executive Director
United Nations Population Fund
Mark Malloch Brown
Administrator
United Nations Development Programme
Dr. Peter Piot
Executive Director
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
Catherine Bertini
Executive Director
World Food Programme
James D. Wolfensohn
President
The World Bank
The purpose of Facts for Life
Facts for Life aims to provide
parents and other caregivers with the information they need to save and
improve children's lives. The challenge is to ensure that everyone
knows and understands these facts and is motivated to put them into
practice.
The messages contained in Facts for Life are based on
the latest scientific findings, as established by medical experts
around the world. These facts are presented in non-technical language
so they can be understood and acted upon easily by people who do not
have a scientific background. Doing so can save lives.
Everyone
can help communicate the Facts for Life messages – health workers,
teachers, students, government officials, radio broadcasters,
journalists, community workers, religious leaders and people in all
walks of life – young and old, family members, friends and neighbours,
men, women and children.
The structure of Facts for Life
Facts for Life consists of 13
chapters, each dealing with one major cause of childhood illness and
death. Every chapter has three parts: an introduction, several key
messages and supporting information.
The introduction is a brief
and powerful 'call to action'. It summarizes the extent of the problem
and why taking action is so important. The introduction aims to inspire
people to get involved and share the information widely. The
introduction can be used to motivate political leaders and the mass
media.
The key messages, addressed to parents and other
caregivers, are the essence of Facts for Life. They contain the
essential information that people need to protect their children. The
key messages are clear, brief and practical, so people can easily
understand them and take the recommended action. These messages are
meant to be communicated often and in various ways.
The
supporting information elaborates on the key messages, providing
additional details and advice. This information is particularly useful
for health workers or anyone who wants to know more. It can also be
used to answer caregivers' questions.