Did you know that hundreds of women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth? Globally, this number has been estimated at around 700 to 800 women daily, with the vast majority of these deaths considered preventable.
On World Health Day, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) highlights a critical truth: access to healthcare is essential to breaking cycles of poverty and saving lives.
When families lack reliable access to nutritious food, clean water, and basic health services, the consequences are devastating. Health challenges do not exist in isolation. They affect education, livelihoods, and the overall well-being of entire communities.
That is why sustainable solutions matter. Improving access to nutrition, safe water, and quality healthcare can mean the difference between life and death for millions of people around the world.
Take Yexibeth’s story as an example.
As a young mother, Yexibeth was forced to migrate from Venezuela to Colombia with her family. Food insecurity and rising costs made daily survival difficult. “We were enduring hunger,” she shared. “We had to stand in line all night to buy flour and rice. Sometimes there was none, or very little.”
Several years ago, Yexibeth began experiencing seizures and urgently needed medical care. As a migrant, accessing healthcare was nearly impossible. ADRA became the only organization willing to provide her with the support she needed.
Later, seeking stability and opportunity, her family relocated again. After navigating the process to obtain legal protection status in Colombia, they eventually settled in and continued working to rebuild their lives.
Now pregnant with twins, Yexibeth once again faced a dangerous gap in care. For six months, she had received no medical attention.
When she heard about a community health outreach event, she went with hope. There, she encountered ADRA’s mobile clinic.
Through this program, Yexibeth received essential medical tests, treatment, and care tailored to her needs as a high-risk patient.
“They came at the right time. Thank God they gave me medicine and did tests,” she said. “I am a pregnant woman who had not had any care in six months.”
For Yexibeth and many others, access to healthcare is not just important. It is life-saving.
ADRA’s mobile clinics are one example of how they are working to remove barriers to care, especially for vulnerable populations such as migrants, pregnant women, and families living in underserved communities.
In 2024 alone, ADRA helped provide health services to more than 2.2 million people worldwide. Each number represents a life reached, a family supported, and a future made possible.
On World Health Day, the need is clear. Health is not a privilege. It is a foundation for dignity, stability, and hope.
You can be part of this mission. By supporting ADRA, you help bring essential healthcare, nutrition, and clean water to communities that need it most.
Partner with ADRA as they live out Justice, Compassion, and Love by clicking here.
