It’s been 40 years since the charity single “We are the World” brought together dozens of pop artists to raise awareness of drought and famine in Ethiopia—something blasted back into consciousness recently with Netflix’s The Greatest Night in Pop documentary, which recounted the night it was recorded. The song’s release was followed by a hit video, which brought distressing images of starving African children, with their bloated bellies and blank stares, into American living rooms. That prompted soaring sales, which translated into tens of millions of dollars in donations.
Since then, through the aid of wealthy nations and charitable organizations, many gains have been made in the global effort to improve the health of the world’s children. Between 2000 and 2020, for example, child mortality was reduced by 50% as was the prevalence of infectious disease. Areas that suffered the most, including sub-Saharan Africa, saw the most improvement.
