In 2010, 7.6 million children died before they reached the age of 5.

But it doesn't have to be this way. Health workers, properly supported, trained, equipped and paid can prevent most child deaths. The world is short of more than 3.5 million health workers. They are the backbone of healthcare. Without them, millions of mothers and children have no one to diagnose illnesses, dispense treatment, assist at births or provide immunisation.

More than 40 million children under the age of five don't have access to essential health care services. For example, in Somalia there is only 1 skilled health worker per 10,000 people.

The critical health worker shortage

Use the tool below to explore the coutries that are considered by the World Health Organization to have critical health worker shortages.

Together we can put more health workers on the ground. Find out how health workers save lives.

Watch this video to understand the issues that many women and children face

These are are the issues that many women and families face. View their stories.

Did you know?

• 7.6 million children under five years old die every year from preventable and treatable illnesses such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria
• A billion people lack access to a health worker
• More than 40 million children under five have no access to essential health services
• 61 developing countries have a critical shortage in health workers.

Read Kunta's story, a women who faced these very issues.

It costs as little as $150 to put a health worker on the ground - do or donate today