![GLOBALLY, 295,000 MOTHERS & 5.3 MILLION CHILDREN DIE EACH YEAR, INCLUDING OVER 2.5 MILLION NEWBORNS WHO DIE IN THEIR FIRST MONTH AND ALMOST 1 MILLION ON THEIR FIRST DAY OF LIFE. | Photo: A health care worker holds a newborn GLOBALLY, 295,000 MOTHERS & 5.3 MILLION CHILDREN DIE EACH YEAR, INCLUDING OVER 2.5 MILLION NEWBORNS WHO DIE IN THEIR FIRST MONTH AND ALMOST 1 MILLION ON THEIR FIRST DAY OF LIFE. | Photo: A health care worker holds a newborn](/sites/default/files/uploads/images//aotc-v3-hero.png)
ACTING ON THE CALL:
PREVENTING CHILD AND MATERNAL DEATHS
Acting on the Call—the U.S. Agency for International Development’s response to the 2012 global Call to Action—lays out a bold agenda to save the lives of women and children. Since 2014, this annual flagship report has served as a roadmap for accelerating progress against one of the Agency’s top global health priorities: preventing child and maternal deaths. The United States is deeply committed to ensuring all women and children have the same chance at a healthy life, regardless of where they live.
LATEST REPORTS & RESOURCES:
OUR APPROACH:
![Maternal and Child Health](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/section-our-approach-tab1-text-1.png)
![Family Planning](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/section-our-approach-tab2-text.png)
![Malaria](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/section-our-approach-tab3-text.png)
![Nutrition](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/section-our-approach-tab4-text.png)
![Water, Sanitation & Hygiene](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/section-our-approach-tab5-text.png)
MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH
In the past ten years, USAID has helped save the lives of more than 9.3 million children and 340,000 women.
Learn More![Maternal and Child Health](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/aotc-2019-maternal-child.jpg)
Photo by Kate Holt for JHPIEGO/MCSP
FAMILY PLANNING
In our priority countries, the percent of demand for family planning satisfied by a modern method has increased from 46% in 2012 to 53% in 2017.
Learn More![Family Planning](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/aotc-2019-family-planning.jpg)
Photo by Kate Holt for Jhpiego/MCSP
MALARIA
In countries supported by the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), nationwide surveys show significant declines in mortality rates among children under five, up to 67%.
![Malaria](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/aotc-2019-malaria.jpg)
Photo by Kate Holt/MCSP and Jhpiego
NUTRITION
Over the past 10 years, the prevalence of child stunting has decreased from 40% to 32.8% across 19 USAID-supported countries.
![Nutrition](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/aotc-2019-nutrition.jpg)
Photo by Spring Project/USAID
WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE
In the past decade, USAID’s water activities have helped more than 27.2 million people have gained access to an improved sanitation service.
![Water, Sanitation & Hygiene](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/aotc-2019-sanitation.jpg)
Photo by Allan Gichigi/MCSP