The most vulnerable people in the world are babies.
Of the 5.2 million children who die around the world each year, 75 per cent die in the first year of life. Babies are at risk of death due to premature birth complications, complications during childbirth, infections, pneumonia and diarrhea.
But this is preventable. With training and support, moms in poverty can be empowered to raise healthy and happy babies.
How does Compassion help moms and babies survive?
Critical care: Your support helps secure access to pre- and postnatal care, skilled birth attendants and medical intervention when necessary.
Home-based care: Mothers are visited in their homes monthly by a Survival specialist, who offers education in prenatal care and early child-rearing as well as one-on-one biblical mentoring.
Group-based learning: At these church-based activities, moms learn skills to earn an income and gain vital knowledge including basic literacy, the importance of breastfeeding and how to prevent malnutrition and disease. These groups combat isolation through a supportive community of mothers who, together, learn about the God who loves them.
Survival in Ethiopia
Your gift will provide…
Here are some of the specific activities partners in Ethiopia have planned.
- Physical activities: We will provide pre- and postnatal checkups for mothers and babies and measure babies’ growth and development regularly. Moms and infants will receive additional health care and treatment when needed. Mothers will learn about nutrition, safe food handling, personal hygiene and the importance of breastfeeding. Babies will be immunized on schedule to prevent serious disease. Moms will be able to access clothing and learn to prepare baby food for supplementary feeding. Families will also receive healthy food baskets.
- Cognitive activities: We will train and equip moms with games and toys to help babies develop cognitive and motor skills as they experience sounds, colours, shapes, flavours and smells. Moms will learn literacy skills and will be encouraged and supported to complete their basic education.
- Socio-emotional activities: Moms will be encouraged to bond with their infants by smiling at them, touching them and treating them respectfully. Parents and children will gather for social events, including traditional coffee ceremonies, birthdays and other occasions, where they will relate to each other in healthy ways as they have fun, talk and pray together. We will also celebrate children’s milestone achievements, which will help them develop confidence. Moms will learn from and support each other in their parenting and faith at regular gatherings.
- Spiritual activities: We will distribute Bibles and devotional materials to moms, and Survival program staff will pray and study with them during home visits. Parents will attend Bible studies and prayer retreats. Children will also receive age-appropriate spiritual teaching.
- Parent and family activities: Caregivers will learn about parenting, sexual and reproductive health, family planning and how to keep children safe. They will also have access to counselling if needed. Moms will learn how to avoid harmful traditional practices such as early marriages, prostitution and child labour. Moms will learn how to start their own businesses to provide for their families and will support each other through savings groups.
With your help, we can give babies born into poverty the essential care they need, help their mothers properly care for them during the critical prenatal months and first year of life, and set them on the path to a fulfilled life in Jesus Christ.