Our response
Action on child health and nutrition: We continue to support national health reform and the decentralization of services. Recognising the huge discrepancies between official and survey data on infant, child and maternal mortality, we support improvements to the health information system. In response to the alarming level of child malnutrition, we work with the government, NGOs and youth volunteers to combat iodine deficiency disorders, anaemia and Vitamin A deficiency. Within the space of three years, the percentage of households consuming iodized salt has increased from virtually zero to 70%. As a fervent supporter of breastfeeding, UNICEF continues to support the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Also, we have partnered with major donors, including the World Bank and USAID to create a national Primary Health Care policy based on the lessons learned from health and nutrition projects and the results of an assessment of the outcomes of primary health care reform. As a result of UNICEF advocacy, the government has taken full responsibility for the provision of vaccines (with the exception of Hepatitis B) since 2003. Action on education: Based on our experience on the integration of early child care and the development of households and formal pre-schools, we are working with the government and NGOs on comprehensive policy formulation in this area. We continue to be involved in the education reform process. While continuing our support of the education reform process to increase the quality of education through enhancing early childhood development, encouraging active learning methodologies and encapsulating children’s rights issues into school curriculum, UNICEF aims to empower parents and families. Our success with parent-teacher associations gives us the confidence to take this project to scale. We are also supporting the introduction of interactive learning to ensure that children learn effectively so that they are motivated and achieve results at school. Action on child protection: UNICEF advocates for legislative reform and supports alternatives to institutionalized child-care. Our major concerns are children without parental guidance, children whose development is undermined by family breakdown, children with disabilities, children with behavioural disorders, abused and neglected children, children on the street, children who are victims of exploitation and children in institutions. Social sector professionals are being trained to identify children with special needs and apply a community and family-based response to their development. We also work to boost the capacities of health, social welfare and educational institutions, particularly on psychosocial rehabilitation. UNICEF is gravely concerned about children living in mine/UXO contaminated areas, and cooperates with national partners to provide Mine Risk Education in schools in the frontline areas. We support the development of national databases on child rights and promote the use of rights-based data for policy development and monitoring. We put a special emphasis on advocacy for the protection of social services for children and women, using the CRC, CEDAW and Education for All as tools to promote and influence policy reform on child protection. Action on young people’s health, development and participation: We support efforts to inform young people about the dangers of high-risk behaviour, including HIV/AIDS, with a special focus on those most at risk, such as IDPs and refugees and other impoverished and marginalized groups. Our main strategy is the empowerment and participation of young people and our collaboration with young people's organizations aims to promote active participation. Our involvement in the HIV/AIDS country theme group has contributed to the government’s efforts to develop a national plan of action for HIV/AIDS. We are committed to increasing media activities by, with and for children. Also we support projects that allow young people to highlight the problems they face, to propose solutions and prepare them for a society where freedom of speech and thought prevails.
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