In China, the medical services available to children and mothers can vary greatly by region, and this situation has resulted in child mortality rates that are anywhere from two to five times higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Moreover, roughly 40% of children under the age of five in rural areas display stunted growth. For this reason, there is an urgent need to improve the capacity of healthcare workers in rural areas to respond to child illnesses while also increasing the ability of local residents to react properly to such illnesses.
Our activities have focused on improving the health and nutrition among children aged five and under in this impoverished area. Over the project’s five-year period, we have been working to cultivate healthcare professionals through a series of IMCI^*1 strategy training sessions while also establishing community centers to offer education for improving the ability of local residents to address pediatric diseases.
In addition, community centers were established at all six homes in the target areas to raise awareness of parents and educate local residents about their health. The activities carried out in this project are expected to be built by the residents themselves as the foundation for efforts toward the operation of regional healthcare, and to expand to surrounding areas in the future.

＊1Integrated Management of Childhood Illness.