We don't think of diarrhea as a deadly illness. In the U.S., it's a minor nuisance for most children, who are able to recover quickly and bounce back to health.

But in developing countries, where children are poorly nourished and their bodies are more vulnerable to infections, diarrhea is a major concern.

Babies and young children are especially at risk: More than 90 percent of deaths from diarrheal diseases due to unsafe water and sanitation in the developing world occur in children younger than 5.

Diarrhea, of course, can be prevented quite easily – when communities have access to clean water and know about good hygiene practices, such as washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet, changing a baby's diaper, or before preparing food.

Clean water and proper hygiene go hand-in-hand in preventing a common illness like diarrhea. It's not complicated, yet the impact is enormous: children's lives can be saved. When communities gain access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene training, the child mortality rate can drop by two-thirds! Please join World Vision to provide these essentials in rural Ethiopia.