All children, regardless of where they live, should have the opportunity to grow up healthy and lead a productive life. As a mother I feel fortunate to live in a place where my children and most other children are healthy because they have access to things like clean water, nutritious food, and vaccines. In many other parts of the world, children are not so lucky. In my travels over the last decade to Africa and South Asia, I have met many women who must walk for hours just to fill a jug with clean water or get their children immunized at a local health clinic. Every day, mothers give birth to children who-- especially in the early years of life--are at risk of getting very sick from pneumonia, meningitis, malaria, and many other diseases. Over seven million children die each year before they reach their fifth birthday. As my father-in-law, Bill Gates Sr., says, these are not just numbers, these are our neighbors.

The good news is that the world is making progress. There are millions of healthy kids alive today because of advances such as vaccines, better bed nets to protect against mosquitoes, and improved nutrition and medical care for mothers and their babies. As you read this book, think of the millions of children who are fighting every day to survive. But also think of the millions of children who are thriving today because of the great progress that the world has made. We have the tools. We know they work. We owe it to all the children of the world to do all we can to give them the best chance to survive and succeed in life. After all, these are our neighbors.

Melinda French Gates Co-chair and trustee, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.