Activities

Early Childhood

© UNICEF/SL/05/Epstein

While overall health indicators are generally positive in Sri Lanka and immunization coverage is high (over 90%), maternal and child malnutrition and neonatal mortality represent the country’s most pressing health issues, along with wide disparities in the health and nutritional conditions of children living in the conflict-affected and poorer areas.

• Around one third of women are both underweight and anaemic
• Nearly one out of five children is born with low birth weight - a reflection of maternal under-nutrition during pregnancy
• Nearly one-third of children under-5 years are underweight.
• Around 24 per cent of children under 5 years and 55 per cent in the 6-10 age group are anaemic.
• Neonatal mortality contributes to up to 70% of deaths among children below 12 months of age.

The key objectives of UNICEF’s Early Childhood and Development programme are to build the knowledge and skills of caregivers in appropriate child care practices, improve access and quality of maternal and child health services, and to support national and sub-national capacity building to develop and implement health and nutrition programmes.