Helping children stay healthy and well-nourished
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© UNICEF Myanmar/2004/Noorani |
If children are not healthy and well-nourished, they cannot realize many of their basic rights. One way UNICEF works to keep Myanmar children healthy is by immunizing children against deadly childhood diseases by:
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Providing approximately 90% of the vaccines used to inoculate children in Myanmar against seven major vaccine-preventable diseases (tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, measles and hepatitis B);
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Supporting routine immunization campaigns and expanding immunization coverage in hard-to-reach areas; and
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Providing equipment to ensure that vaccines retain their potency.
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© UNICEF Myanmar/2004/Noorani |
UNICEF also keeps women and children healthy by improving the quality and availability of health services.
UNICEF does this by:
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Training rural health center staff in the integrated management of maternal and childhood illnesses;
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Increasing access to essential drugs;
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Ensuring the availability of standard and emergency obstetric care facilities in township hospitals; and
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Reducing the prevalence of malaria through the provision of bed nets, diagnostic equipment, and medication.
UNICEF strives to reduce child and maternal malnutrition by:
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Increasing mothers’ awareness of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for their children during the first six months of life;
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Supplying the majority of vitamin A capsules to children nationwide to prevent blindness and strengthen children’s immune systems;
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Supplying 50% of all potassium iodate nationwide to support salt iodization, which prevents iodine deficiency disorders and mental retardation; and
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Providing iron supplements to pregnant and lactating women to prevent anemia.
