Nutrition and Health - UNICEF in action
UNICEF supports Government efforts to increase the coverage and quality of essential health services for children, adolescents and women, and to promote positive practices for better nutrition and health. The programme is an essential part of an integrated approach to early childhood care and development. One of the key interventions supported by UNICEF is the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI), which includes training of health workers and mothers in recognising danger signs and providing first aid. (fact sheet on Child health and nutrition) UNICEF also supports immunization services and campaigns, mainly by contributing to training, providing vaccines and cold chain material. (fact sheet on Immunisation) Another important area of support is the fight against malaria. UNICEF provides the health system with insecticide-treated mosquito nets, which are sold at highly subsidized prices to pregnant women and children under five at health posts. (fact sheet on Malaria). In addition, UNICEF could contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality by promoting institutional births and support to emergency obstetrics. This includes training and the provision of ambulance-bicycles and waiting houses for women who live far from a maternity health facility. (fact sheet on Safe Motherhood) UNICEF has also mainstreamed HIV/AIDS prevention and care initiatives for young children, adolescents and pregnant women into its health and nutrition programme. Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission services, care and treatment for paediatric AIDS, youth friendly health services and home-based care for HIV infected children are the main UNICEF-supported programmes to combat the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable children and women. (info on HIV/AIDS – UNICEF in action) Progress in 2004 • Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) activities continued in Inhambane and Gaza and were extended to Cabo Delgado provinces with more health workers being trained on how to diagnose childhood illnesses in the absence of laboratory facilities. 170,000 children benefitted from community-based activities that focus on improved childcare, feeding, disease prevention and health enhancing practices. • Malaria prevention activities were expanded to 32 additional districts in Zambezia, Gaza and Tete provinces, with over 250,000 Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) provided to children and pregnant women. First reports from three districts in Zambezia and Gaza indicate a high ITN coverage at around 60%. • UNICEF and partners supported the establishment of 20 additional Emergency Obstetric Care Centres in Cabo Delgado province in 2004. In addition, 20 health professionals and 70 midwives were trained.
Safe Motherhood Immunisation Plus Improving child health and nutrition Protection children and women with insecticide treated mosquito |
