Lithuania

Background

Click for a detailed map (PDF)

This map does not reflect a position by UNICEF on the legal status of any country or territory or the delimitation of any frontiers.

Lithuania was admitted to the European Union in 2004. The overall economic picture in the country is steadily improving. Because so much progress has been made for children’s rights and well-being, UNICEF’s country programme in Lithuania will end after 2005.  

Issues facing children in Lithuania

• The proportion of infants placed in state care is one of the highest in Europe, and continues to increase.

• Newborns in 2004 showed mild rates of iodine deficiency. Consumers, unaware of the health benefits of iodine, stockpiled non-iodized salt upon hearing that it would no longer be available in stores.

• Breastfeeding rates are low in Lithuania relative to the rest of Europe.

Activities and results for children

• Lithuania declared 2004 the year of children’s health, which brought increased attention and resources to national health services and programmes that focus on children.
  

• The example set by Slovenia has encouraged Lithuania to look for alternatives to the institutional care of children, including preventive community initiatives, foster care and other family-focused programmes.
  

• The Ministry of Health has mandated that all table salt and salt used in the bread industry must be iodized.
  

• The Ministry of Health has recommended that all maternity hospitals adopt the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, which encourages breastfeeding. UNICEF has provided training to more than a hundred health care professionals. Duration of breastfeeding is now a national indicator in the public health programme.

• Lithuania has adopted a national HIV strategy that incorporates HIV/AIDS prevention into school curricula. 

• UNICEF helped to strengthen the effectiveness of the National Public Health Service and lent technical support to the creation of a national database of young people’s health indicators.