Planet Wheeler Foundation will commit $5.6m towards a scientific study to determine whether the power of mass media can be harnessed to save children’s lives on an unprecedented scale. The project will be implemented in partnership with the Wellcome Trust. A model developed by Development Media International (DMI) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) predicts that child mortality can be reduced by 10% to 20% in most developing countries simply by broadcasting radio and television messages on all key life-saving behaviours. If these impact and cost-effectiveness predictions could be proven to rigorous scientific standards, in a real-life setting and implemented in10 countries over 10 years, the model predicts some 2.2 million lives could be saved.

By developing a model with DMI and LSHTM to predict that child mortality can be reduced by 10% to 20%. Planet Wheeler Foundation will also commit financial investment towards scientific study to determine whether the power of mass media can be harnessed to save children's lives on an unprecedented scale.

Wellcome Trust, Development Media International (DMI), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)