7.7 million children under the age of five died in 2010. Had the world made the progress it promised in the Millennium Development Goals, millions of those kids would be alive today. Lets demand that the countries meet their pledge this time.
Women in poor health don\'t get prenatal care. Their babies, often of low weight, don\'t do well and many die. The kids get sick a lot, living in households with poor hygiene, and don\'t thrive. They sometimes go hungry. Underweight, their immune systems are not strong, so they are more vulnerable to disease.
Of course, as Charles suggests, it is useful to find out the most cost effective interventions, and put money into them to save lives. Often these will be preventive. Sometimes they will be expensive. The eradication of smallpox cost a lot of money, but it saved a lot of lives per dollar spent. If we can complete the eradication of polio, that too will be great, and the cost of doing so from this point should be trivial compared with what has been invested, or to what would be needed if we allowed the disease to come back. immunizations and prenatal care are cost effective. Sometimes recuperative care is cost effective -- rehydration and food bars for example.
An educated mother, with enough income to feed her kids and to live in a safe home, will do a great deal to keep her children alive and well! Don\'t forget the big picture!