In the last decade, China has made tremendous achievements in improving the health of women and children. By 2004, the country’s maternal mortality rate has dropped from 1,500 out of 100,000 people in 1949 to 48.3 out of 100,000 people and the infant mortality rate reduced from 200‰ to 21.5‰.(2005 China Health Statistics Outline, the China Ministry of Health.) 

Despite achievements there is still overwhelming disparity and inequity: women and children from rural communities and other marginalised groups still face many challenges. This disparity and lack of equity is largely created by unbalanced distribution of public resources, low capacity of the country’s health service system, and the lack of an effective mechanism at all levels to ensure cost-efficient cross-sector interventions.

The objectives of our work in health programs and projects are to increase women, children and families’ access to quality health services, improve and increase care giver and children’s skills in disease prevention and hygiene, improve children’s nutrition, decrease the occurrence of common illnesses and accidental injuries among children and share best practice and effective models with corresponding Chinese government agencies.

We achieve our objectives through the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Project, the Child Nutrition Project, the Reproductive Health-HIV Education and the Child Safety Project.