Health and nutrition
In the Central African Republic, UNICEF works to ensure that every child is healthy and well-nourished
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Challenges
Already a cause for concern before the 2012-2013 crisis, and despite progress in recent years, nutrition and maternal and child health indicators in the Central African Republic remain among the lowest in the world.
According to the country’s MICS6 2018-2019 report, neonatal, infant and under-five mortality rates are among the highest in the world (28, 65 and 99 per 1,000 live births respectively).
Only 18 per cent of children aged between 12 and 23 months are fully vaccinated, and 37 per cent of children aged between 12 and 23 months have received zero doses (ECV 2023).
Only 3 out of 10 children receive treatment for the main childhood killers (malaria, respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea).
In terms of access to essential healthcare, the universal health coverage index is 33 on a scale of 100.
Severe acute malnutrition affects 5 per cent of children under 5, stunted growth (chronic malnutrition) 37.9 per cent and 86.7 per cent of children aged between 6 and 23 months do not have a minimum acceptable diet.
The Central African Republic has a rate of 5.5 basic health professionals per 10,000 inhabitants (according to the WHO, the target should be 23).
Solutions
Vaccination
Following UNICEF's advocacy, a budget line for vaccination was created in the state budget and the government is committed to covering all of the cost of traditional vaccines.
Child immunization coverage has improved. Two campaigns have enabled more than 1.7 million children to be vaccinated against polio by 2023. The quality of the supply chain has been strengthened.
Nutrition
As well as helping provide a supply of ready-to-use therapeutic food inputs to treat cases of severe acute malnutrition in more than 700 health facilities, a network of nearly 2,000 community health workers has been equipped to promote good infant and young child feeding practices in 2024. In addition, 948,520 children aged 6-59 months (93 per cent of the target) have been supplemented with two doses of vitamin A.
Maternal, neonatal and infant health
UNICEF has supported the supply of 335 tons of essential medicines for the seven health regions, with funding from the European Union.
The rate of assisted deliveries has risen to 61.5 per cent
HIV/AIDS
74 per cent of pregnant women tested HIV-positive have been put on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, and 63 per cent of children aged 0-14 tested HIV-positive have received ARV treatment.