Child Health Now, World Vision's first global advocacy campaign, celebrates its first birthday today!

Launched a year ago today on the rain swept streets of Westminster, amongst the towering skyscrapers of New York City and with Barack Obama’s Gran in Nairobi the campaign has gone from strength to strength.

Indonesia secured over 100 news articles in the press during the launch of the campaign.  Bolivia’s campaign attracted the support from the president’s sister, Ester Morales, whilst Kenya worked with the first lady to raise the campaign profile. Efforts by the team in Armenia resulted in the government increasing the annual budget, specifically for child health by over US$1 million.
 
Globally, World Vision is now recognised as a leading voice on the issue of child health. World Vision was the only civil society organisation chosen to speak at the launch of the UN Secretary-General’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health at the UN meetings in September 2010 –this saw WV President Kevin Jenkins mixing with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Deputy PM Nick Clegg and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
 
As a direct result of World Vision’s advocacy efforts at this year’s G8, the Canadian government launched the Muskoka initiative that committed a combined total (from governments and foundations) of US$7.3 billion for child and maternal health.  
 
In the UK we’ve seen some great opportunities to talk with supporters about Child Health Now with the Stop the Child Killers, Finish the Job and Vote Global campaigns mobilising over 20,000 supporters and earning responses from DfID. As well as communicating strong child health messages as part of our East Africa appeal, Gift Cat child health bundles and recent sponsor Christmas card campaign.

Thank you for all your support to Child Health Now over the last year!

16th November 2010