Our work

Born Healthy – improving the care and prevention of birth defects

Birth defects (congenital disorders) affect around eight million babies each year. As deaths from infectious diseases fall, they are becoming the leading cause of childhood death.

Congenital disorders represent a huge group of abnormalities ranging from inherited diseases to physical problems such as cleft palate, club foot and spina bifida. Most have underlying genetic causes, although environmental factors can also cause or worsen them.

What can be done?

The short answer is - we can do a lot: where services are available, as many as 70% of birth defects can be prevented or treated, and care greatly improved. Sadly, for many people, especially in low and middle income countries, even simple, affordable services that would have a major impact are not available.

In May 2010 the World Health Assembly passed a resolution calling on member states to act to address the current lack of focus on birth defects. In response, the PHG Foundation is leading efforts to refocus attention on this significant global health problem and provide practical solutions that will make a significant step towards the achievement of UN Millennium Development Goal 4.

Born Healthy

Our innovative health needs assessment toolkit for congenital disorders allows users to access international data and expertise to evaluate local needs, plan appropriate maternal and child health services, and demonstrate the impact they can make in preventing and treating birth defects.

The Born Healthy community not only makes the new toolkit freely available to health professionals and planners; it also unites the growing number of people and organisations concerned about the suffering caused by birth defects. If you share this concern, and want children to have the healthiest possible start in life - join the community. It's completely free, and your voice can make a difference to the future of millions of children.

Progress update

Acknowledgements

As well as the many experts taking part in this programme, we are delighted to acknowledge support from the following organisations.