Good health is the foundation of any child’s life, and having access to medical services, vaccinations, and training in disease prevention will provide stronger health for our children and their community. An under-5 clinic is being held once a month at the Sonshine farm for children to be monitored and receive immunizations. They are weighed and given any necessary medications. While it is still mainly for the under 5 demographic, it is available for others in need of malaria testing and treatment, as well. 

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Statistics* in Zambia show that there is a great need of care for women and for children under the age of 5. It's shocking to realize that only 63% of births are attended by a skilled health worker, and that 42% of women do not receive care after giving birth. For every 100,000 births, there are 183 maternal deaths, and the mortality rate for neonatal and under 5 are at 59 deaths per 1000 live births. 
 

Many deaths occur at these young ages as a result of malaria, respiratory infections, diarrhea, anemia, and malnutrition (70% of the population are food insecure). Approximately 40% of Zambian children are stunted due to chronic malnourishment and 28% are grossly underweight. All of these problems could easily be treated if they lived in a first world country. Therefore, it is our hope to see these children grow and become stronger as they benefit from the medical and feeding programs here on the Sonshine farm.​

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*statistics vary throughout the country's geographic locations.