Переход к основному содержанию
 Европа и Центральная Азия Европа и Центральная Азия
  • English
  • русский

Global Links

  • Назад к ЮНИСЕФ
  • Высокий контраст
 Европа и Центральная Азия Европа и Центральная Азия
    • Узнать о ЮНИСЕФ
      • О нас
      • Наш мандат
      • Региональный директор
      • Положение детей в регионе
      • Где мы работаем
      • Портал для родителей
      • Наши голоса: Молодёжь региона
      • Послы ЮНИСЕФ в Европе и Центральной Азии
      • Наши партнеры
  • Пресс-центр
Поддержать

Main navigation

  • Что мы делаем
  • Исследования и отчеты
  • Истории из региона
  • Действуйте
Search area has closed test
Зона поиска открыта
ПОИСКЗакрыть

Поиск ЮНИСЕФ

  • Доступно на:
  • English
  • русский
  • Українська
  • Polish
  • Czech
  • Отчет (4)
  • Пресс-релиз (2)
  • (-) Статья (11)
  • (-) Страница (2)
  • COVID-19 (7)
  • Fathers (1)
  • Mothers (1)
  • Parenting (5)
  • (-) Беженцы (3)
  • Вакцины (4)
  • Грудное вскармливание (1)
  • Дети-беженцы и дети-мигранты (5)
  • Детское ожирение (1)
  • (-) Европейский Союз (1)
  • (-) Защита детей (10)
  • Здоровье и развитие подростков (2)
  • Здравоохранение (5)
  • Изменение климата (1)
  • Иммунизация (4)
  • Материнство (1)
  • Мигрант и кризис с беженцами (4)
  • Миграция и кризис с беженцами (1)
  • Недоедание (1)
  • (-) Образование (1)
  • Образование в чрезвычайных ситуациях (1)
  • Охрана здоровья новорожденных (1)
  • Охрана материнского здоровья (1)
  • Питание (2)
  • Полиомиелит (1)
  • Права детей (1)
  • Развитие детей раннего возраста (1)
  • Ранее обучение (1)
  • Албания (1)
  • Болгария (5)
  • Босния и Герцеговина (6)
  • Греция (4)
  • Европа и Центральная Азия (3)
  • Испания (1)
  • Италия (3)
  • Монтенегро/Черногория (1)
  • (-) Программа ЮНИСЕФ в Республике Косово (1)
  • (-) Региональный офис ЮНИСЕФ по странам Европы и Центральной Азии (13)
  • Региональный офис ЮНИСЕФ по странам Европы и Центральной Азии (2)
  • Сербия (3)
  • Словакия (1)
  • Турция (1)
  • Хорватия (1)
Article
25 Ноябрь 2022
Healing old wounds
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/healing-old-wounds
Yura, a social worker, had joined the CRWB a year earlier and was loving her work. “Guiding through people from refugee and migrant backgrounds on health-related procedures in their host country is a way to empower them to find solutions to health issues,” she explained. And this was particularly vital for those fleeing from armed conflicts and humanitarian crises. Radostina Belcheva, Project Coordinator and Deputy-Chair of CRWB explained: “In Bulgaria, refugee children arrive with their parents or – in some cases – unaccompanied. Psychological problems, infectious diseases, medically unobserved pregnancies and, in particular, a lack of immunization, are common problems that have a negative impact on their health and well-being.” Working directly with refugees, Yura would consult with families seeking to access health services, such as immunization. However, parents often lacked the necessary vaccination documents. According to Yura, “Sometimes children have not had any vaccinations, or they have been vaccinated in their country of origin, but their immunization cards have been lost or destroyed.”    Such cases required additional consultations, research and coordination, as well as testing for antibodies and immune responses when it was not clear whether the child has been vaccinated. “By empowering parents to familiarize themselves with the immunization plans and procedures we help them become proactive in following up on their children’s health,” said Yura.  
Article
04 Ноябрь 2022
Building demand for health services: the importance of health literacy
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/building-demand-health-services-importance-health-literacy
The success of the Initiative lies in its two-pronged approach. First, UNICEF and its partners in the five countries consulted young refugees, migrants and their caregivers on their priority health issues, as well as the gaps in health information and in their own knowledge. At every stage, their views, plus the views of UNICEF’s implementing partners on the ground, have informed health literacy packages that were rolled out in all five countries, spanning topics from the importance of immunization and the importance of breastfeeding to GBV, MHPSS and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Second, the materials have been backed by communication plans to make sure their messages landed with their audience, and the materials produced have been culturally appropriate, gender sensitive and, where necessary, child-friendly. Cultural mediators and interpreters have helped to overcome language and cultural barriers, while materials have been made available in many languages, including Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Tigrinya, Urdu and Wolof, as well as in large print and sign-language versions. Health literacy activities have been led by professionals who are already trusted by refugees and migrants. Materials have been shared through the channels and in the places they use most often, including asylum offices, temporary reception centres, health centres, Mother and Baby Corners, workshops and discussion sessions, during outreach activities and via social media.  
Article
29 Ноябрь 2022
How a pair of spectacles changed one girl’s life
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/how-pair-spectacles-changed-one-girls-life
3484 refugee and migrant children accessed health checks and referrals to public healthcare services, including to immunization, with UNICEF support – almost 3 times the number targeted for the Initiative. 3338 refugee and migrant children accessed mother, and child healthcare, including infant and young child feeding counselling, with UNICEF support – more than twice as many as originally targeted. Implementing partners: Danish Refugee Council, Fenix, Medicins du Monde, Save the Children International, World Vision. An independent evaluation of the ‘RM Child-Health’ Initiative has taken stock of its impact in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [1] This impact was driven, in large part, by close collaboration between the Initiative and other UNICEF programme areas, particularly health, early childhood development and social inclusion, and by strong relationships with implementing partners: the Danish Refugee Council, Fenix, Medicins du Monde and World Vision. Refugees, migrants and service providers have valued the Initiative, with surveys carried out by UNICEF’s implementing partners finding that the activities responded to needs. The beneficiaries were highly satisfied with both the paediatric services provided and the awareness raising and training delivered. The Initiative was swift to adapt to new and emerging needs, including the COVID-19 pandemic, modifying its information and training materials and approaches to keep health services going. UNICEF and its partners obtained official approval for health workers to work in other cantons and organized transport to get them there, helping to provide cover for health workers who were infected with COVID-19. [2] Partners also held more frequent meetings with fewer participants to maintain social distancing. In response to requests from refugees and migrants, the Initiative added nutrition information as well as mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services for children. Prior to the Initiative, MHPSS services had focused on adults only. Similarly, the Initiative led to the expansion of routine immunization to refugee and migrant children who had not previously been covered – with obvious benefits for the wider population as this critical immunization gap was closed. In addition, the work of the International Organization for Migration in Bosnia and Herzegovina now follows UNICEF’s protocol on the provision of baby formula milk. [3] Cantonal health institutes in Bosnia and Herzegovina are now better informed regarding the health conditions of refugees and migrants. UNICEF has also succeeded in integrating Roma and host communities in awareness-raising efforts on health delivered to refugee and migrant populations.   This story is part of the Project ‘Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children’s Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe’, Co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative). It represents the views of the author only and is her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains. *Names changed to protect identities. [1] IOD PARC , Evaluation of the UNICEF Project: Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children’s Health Status in Southern and South-Eastern Europe. [2] UNICEF ECARO staff. [3] UNICEF CO staff.
Page
17 Январь 2023
UNICEF Emergency Response Office in Slovakia
https://www.unicef.org/eca/unicef-emergency-response-office-slovakia
Context Although Slovakia grants “urgent and necessary health services” for Ukrainian citizens registered for Temporary Protection, many Ukrainians face challenges in accessing support. What is “urgent and necessary," however, is often left to the judgment of individual doctors, creating a situation in which quality of health care received by refugees can vary significantly. Ukrainian children tend to have significantly lower vaccination rates compared to Slovaks and front-line health workers are not trained to deal with vaccine hesitancy. The key challenge in the mid-long term is the management of chronic diseases, control and management of infectious and communicable disease, and provision of specialized mental health services and psychological support. In addition, there is a shortage of doctors, particularly pediatricians and nurses, with some regions being underserved even before the crisis. Under the existing legislation, Ukrainian health workers can provide services only under the direct supervision of a senior Slovak health worker, due to the shorter academic curriculum and mandated training required for doctors in Ukraine. UNI396419 UNI396419 UNI396419 UNI396419     UNICEF’s Response Support to recognition of qualifications of Ukrainian health workers is one of four areas of cooperation between UNICEF and the Ministry of Health, in addition to immunization and early childhood development, specialized mental health support, as well as health promotion and health education, including through parenting programmes. In collaboration with the Regional Health Authority in Bratislava, UNICEF supports the provision of primary healthcare services in the Bratislava region, hosting over 30,000 refugees, including more than 12,000 children. Services are provided by two general practitioners, two pediatricians, one gynecologist, and one psychiatrist under the supervision of a senior Slovak doctor. Pediatricians and breastfeeding counselors are integrated into the Blue Dots in Bratislava, Košice and Michalovce. UNI396390 UNI396390 UNI396390 UNI396390   Since 15 July 2022, primary healthcare services have been provided to over 43,000 children and women through UNICEF-supported mechanisms, including consultations for mental health, referrals to higher levels of care, and vaccination of children against measles, polio, and so on.
Article
01 Ноябрь 2022
Building ‘muscle memory’
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/building-muscle-memory
EU Health programme The ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative has supported work across five European countries to strengthen the capacity of national health systems to meet the health needs of refugee and migrant children. As the programme draws to a close, we review its impact on that capacity, recognizing that a health system that works for vulnerable children is a health system that works for every child.     Support from the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative has reinforced and enhanced health systems across five European countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Serbia), helping them to deliver the high-quality services that every child needs, regardless of where they come from. This €4.3 million initiative, launched in 2020 by the European Union Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, has aimed to strengthen the capacity of health systems to deliver health care to refugee and migrant children so that no child is overlooked or left behind. This has been crucial for overcoming the obstacles that have confronted so many refugee and migrant families when trying to access health care. As the initiative ends, an independent evaluation has found that it has succeeded in its goal of strengthening the capacity of national authorities. In particular, the Initiative has helped to enhance access to mental health and psycho-social support (MHPSS), life-saving immunization, services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV), and services for maternal and new-born health care and nutrition.  
Article
13 Май 2021
Mainstreaming what works: EU and UNICEF strengthen health capacity for refugee and migrant children
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/mainstreaming-what-works-eu-and-unicef-strengthen-health-capacity-refugee-and-migrant
“Very often we have the feeling that this space functions as a container for the absorption of negative emotions of the people who visit us. People who come here often feel safe enough to share their fears, their frustrations and even their darker thoughts. We try to give them space to express their feelings and we always find ways to boost their morale.”  A Coordinator from METAdrasi on the importance of the Mother and Child Space for refugee and migrant At the ADRA community centre for migrant mothers and babies, Belgrade, Serbia At the ADRA community centre for migrant mothers and babies, Belgrade, Serbia The ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative has worked with UNICEF and its partners over the past year to strengthen national health systems in five European countries so they can meet the needs of refugee and migrant children. The initiative recognizes that a strong health system delivers for every vulnerable child. It is also a system that looks beyond physical health care to address mental and emotional wellbeing and wider issues, such as gender-based violence. Strong health systems are vital to ease the bottlenecks that confront refugee and migrant families when they try to access health care. All too often, their attempts to claim their right to health services are hampered by language barriers, bureaucracy and discrimination. In Bulgaria, for example, where national immunization rates are already below the European average, refugee and migrant children are three times less likely to be vaccinated than other children. The challenges  Refugee and migrant children often have complex health needs, which may go far beyond poor physical health. Migration has a negative impact, for example, on their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. And that impact is intensified by poor living conditions, a lack of supportive social networks and social integration and, all too often, hostility from host communities. Many parents and caregivers, faced with barriers to health care and other basic services, as well as a lack of control over their own destiny, face real distress, and this can undermine their ability to meet the physical and emotional needs of their children at a critical point in their development. Gender-based violence (GBV) is another – and particularly harsh – challenge that affects many refugee and migrant children and young people. A chronic lack of child-friendly health information and durable solutions has heightened the risks of GBV, sexually transmitted diseases and early pregnancies, and the devastating consequences of all three for mental health. The response 
Article
13 Май 2021
Empowering refugee and migrant children to claim their right to health: Improving health literacy
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/empowering-refugee-and-migrant-children-claim-their-right-health-improving-health-literacy
“I have always had to behave ‘like a girl’ and I am not used to being asked for my opinion, but you ask me to say what I think during these workshops.”   A 13-year-old girl from Syria describes the impact of empowerment workshops in Serbia  Boy is drawing a picture. UNICEF-supported activities for children on the island of Lesvos, Greece The ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative has supported work across five European countries to improve health literacy among refugee and migrant children over the past year. As a result, they and their families have learned about key health issues, about the health services available to them, and how to demand health services as their right. Through its support for health literacy – the ability to find, understand and use information to take care of your own health – the initiative has helped to dismantle some key barriers to health services for refugee and migrant children and their families in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Serbia. This 27-month, €4.3 million co-funded initiative, which was launched in January 2020 by the European Union Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, works alongside young refugees and migrants to ensure that they have accurate health information in their own languages – information that reaches them via the channels they use and the people they trust. Importantly, the initiative makes them more aware of their right to health care in these European countries – welcome news for those who have fled from countries where good quality health care is either unaffordable or unavailable. With support from the initiative, UNICEF and its partners first worked with young refugees and migrants to identify gaps in the information available to them and in their own knowledge. This informed the health literacy packages that have been rolled out in all five countries over the past year, spanning a wide range of topics from immunization and nutrition to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV). The packages themselves have been backed by detailed plans to ensure that their messages reach their audiences and gain real traction. Great care has been taken to ensure that information materials are culturally appropriate, gender sensitive and child-friendly, and that they are suitable for the ages and backgrounds of their audiences. Cultural mediators and interpreters have helped to overcome language and cultural barriers, while materials have been made available in, for example, Arabic, Farsi and Pashto. Activities have often been led by trusted professionals, such as nurses, physicians and psychologists who are already familiar with the needs of refugee and migrant children and their families. Materials have been shared through channels and locations that are well-used by refugees and migrants, including asylum offices, temporary reception centres, health centres, Mother and Baby Corners (MBCs), workshops and discussion sessions, during outreach activities and via social media. As a result, health literacy is now embedded into existing activities with refugee and migrant children and parents across all five countries, and is based firmly on their views and needs. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, information workshops have been tailored to the needs of different groups of children, including those who are unaccompanied and separated. Topics over the past year have included personal and oral hygiene, drug and alcohol use and its impact on health, the importance of immunization, early childhood development, medical referrals and the proper use of medicines and the risks of self-medication, as well as COVID-19 risks and prevention and services for those with symptoms. Health literacy on immunization, for example, has been strengthened through close cooperation with the Institutes for Public Health and local primary health centres, helping to ensure that refugees and migrants are aware of the national immunization calendar and protocols.  In all, 1,428 refugee and migrant children and their parents have received vital information on immunization, 840 have received information on mental health and psycho-social services, and 580 (nearly double the target) have received information on maternal and child health care and nutrition.  In Bulgaria, the initiative has supported group sessions that have exceeded their targets, with 99 sessions held for refugee children and mothers – more than three times the 28 sessions envisaged. There were more than twice as many information sessions on gender-based violence as originally planned: 107 rather than 48. In all, 600 refugee and migrant children and their parents have received information on immunization, 600 on mental health and psycho-social services, and 600 on maternal and child health, with every target for these areas met or surpassed in terms of the numbers of children reached.   “Guiding people from refugee and migrant backgrounds on health-related procedures in their host country is a way to empower them to find solutions to health issues.”    Yura, a social worker with the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (CRWB) In Greece, support from the initiative has enabled UNICEF and its partners to equip refugee and migrant children with information on health risks, entitlements and services through its non-formal education programme in urban areas and on the islands. In the first full year of the initiative, 1,796 children and 464 parents have received crucial information to help them safeguard their own health.   In addition, information on mental health risks, entitlements and services has been shared with 587 refugee and migrant children on Lesvos through existing psychosocial support activities at the Child and Family Support Hub (CFSH), including counselling, information sessions, parent sessions and more. Refugee and migrant women and children using the UNICEF-supported Safe Space in Athens and the CFSH on Lesvos have had access to information on GBV, with 1,313 women and 687 children reached to date. Another 1,183 mothers and 596 children have received information on maternal and child health via the CFSH on Lesvos and at child-friendly spaces within the Asylum Service Offices in Athens and Thessaloniki.  In Italy, there has been an emphasis on peer-to-peer health literacy over the past year. Young refugees and migrants have shared critical health messages through, for example, the U-Report on the Move platform – a user-friendly, cost-effective and anonymous digital platform with more than 6,000 subscribers, where they speak out on the issues that matter to them. Brochures on immunization, mental health and GBV have been translated into seven languages, and a live chat on reproductive health and the concept of ‘consent’ has been conducted in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). ‘Q&A’ publications have provided clear answers to burning questions on immunization, mental health and GBV, with short videos explaining, for example, what to do if someone you know has been subjected to violence, and how to protect yourself from online abuse. In the first full year of the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative, more than 10,887 refugees and migrants in Italy have benefited from critical information on health-related risks and services. The health literacy package supported by the initiative is being shared beyond refugee and migrant communities to reach local communities and key stakeholders, with human interest stories aiming to increase public awareness of the lives of refugees and migrants. The initiative’s targets for health literacy in Serbia have also been exceeded, with 1,094 refugee and migrant children and parents receiving information on mental health (original target: 500) and 722 receiving information on GBV (original target: 600). Looking beyond the sheer numbers of beneficiaries, those taking part in health literacy workshops, in particular, have voiced their appreciation. One woman from Syria who took part in a GBV workshop commented: “I think that women, especially in our culture, do not recognize violence because they think it’s normal for men to be louder, to yell, that they have the right to have all their whims fulfilled even if their wife wants or needs something different. It is a form of inequality we are used to. That is why it is important to talk about it, as you do, to have more workshops on these topics with women from our culture, so that we realize we should not put up with anything that is against our will or that harms us and our health.”   Another woman from Syria, who participated in a workshop on mental health and psychosocial support, said:  “If it weren't for these workshops you’re organizing, our stay in the camp would be so gloomy. I notice that women are in a much better mood and smiling during the workshops, more than in our spare time. You have a positive impact on us.”   Materials have been available in six languages and have covered access to health services, mental health issues, GBV, breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding, breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, recommendations for parents of children aged 1-6 months, recommendations for children aged 7-24 months, and substance abuse. To reach key stakeholders beyond refugee and migrant communities, a project information sheet and human-interest stories have been widely shared via social media and other well-used channels. Work is now underway in Serbia, with support from the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative, to develop a new information package and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence against boys. This will be rolled out in 2021 in close partnership with key actors in child protection, including those who work directly with boys from refugee and migrant communities. The first full year of support from the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative shows what can be achieved when refugee and migrant children, women and parents are all treated as champions for their own health, rather than the passive recipients of health care. Once equipped with the right information, including the knowledge of their fundamental right to health services, they are more likely to demand the health care to which they are entitled. Logo - Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children’s Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe This story is part of the Project ‘Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children’s Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe’, co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative). It represents the views of the author only and is her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains. 
Article
21 Ноябрь 2022
Snapshots from the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative in Greece
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/snapshots-rm-child-health-initiative-greece
Over 3000 children and 2300 mothers benefited from access to services, including psychosocial support, GBV prevention and support and mother and childcare services – almost three times as many as originally targeted for the Initiative. 3600 refugee and migrant children and parents received UNICEF-supported information on GBV prevention and response, immunization, maternal and child health, and mental health and psychosocial support services – more than twice as many as originally targeted. Implementing partners: Caritas, Diotima, ELIX, Iliaktida, The Melissa Network, Metadrasi, Solidarity Now   An independent evaluation of the ‘RM Child-Health’ Initiative has taken stock of its impact in Greece since 2020. [2] It has confirmed that the Initiative’s flexibility and its focus on system strengthening has supported the expansion of capacity in situations where these systems have been over-stretched. This could be seen on the island of Lesvos, Greece, where human resources in state-run facilities have faced serious constraints in meeting the demand for health care, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and where partnership with Reception and Identification Centres has proved crucial. All training delivered under the ‘RM Child-Health Initiative’ was delivered in a way that was relevant for participants and responsive to their needs. The starting point was their existing knowledge and experience, aiming to build their sense of ownership and engagement. They were also consulted to assess what kind of support to prioritize. This process revealed challenging areas that were added to the training: working with vulnerable children; professional stress and burnout; and the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation. The training was also flexible, incorporating a module on how to deliver training online during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the pandemic, implementing partners used a hybrid approach to reach refugees and migrants during lockdowns. They piloted community-based activities at four sites, and all service provision shifted to remote programming via telephone and internet. In camps, UNICEF’s partners complemented remote delivery with tent-to-tent visits. [3]   Partners created WhatsApp social groups for different age groups and shared ideas for coping with lockdowns. [4] Simple and engaging visuals on COVID-19 prevention and on how to maintain good nutrition during the pandemic were developed and shared. Child-friendly information posters and stickers on COVID-19 prevention are now on display wherever refugees and migrants congregate. Stakeholders have also reported greater awareness of child nutrition and the importance of breastfeeding. In Lesvos, the needs assessment for the training found that kits for mothers contained breastmilk substitutes. A set of training materials on the benefits of breastfeeding was produced, including a ‘truth or myth’ game for use with pregnant or lactating women. The training created a new network of people who have kept in touch, with some asking for more information. Implementing partners have noticed that training participants have started to collaborate in the camps, with midwives and volunteers, for example, working together. In one camp, there have been no requests for breastmilk substitutes since the training. [5] The Initiative has supported extensive work on gender-based violence, including the mapping of GBV service providers and referral mechanisms to state-run shelters and counselling centres. The work of UNICEF’s implementing partner, Melissa, has been notable: delivering mental health and psychosocial services (MHPSS) through group therapy. This approach, which built trust, proved vital during the COVID-19 pandemic because it could be transferred smoothly to online delivery to maintain women’s engagement. A separate grant provided women with tablets, which they often called ‘Melissa’s eye in their house’, saying that it made them feel safer. Melissa also developed a code women could use to ask for help. Women felt secure enough to share their experiences, knowing that they would get the right support. This resulted in a high rate of self-disclosure. Women were referred quickly without having to complete extensive questionnaires. Instead, a team of highly skilled psychologists and therapists identified GBV survivors and provided follow up.   This story is part of the Project ‘Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children’s Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe’, Co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative). It represents the views of the author only and is her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains. [1] Names changed to protect privacy. [2] IOD PARC , Evaluation of the UNICEF Project: Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children’s Health Status in Southern and South-Eastern Europe. [3] UNICEF CO staff. [4] UNICEF CO staff. [5] IP
Article
18 Ноябрь 2022
Reaching refugee and migrant children during COVID-19
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/reaching-refugee-and-migrant-children-during-covid-19
725 refugee and migrant children participated in UNICEF-supported psychosocial support sessions and referrals to specialized mental health services – almost 3 times more than the number originally targeted for the Initiative. 450 refugee and migrant children participated in UNICEF-supported gender-based violence (GBV) prevention activities and referral to national authorities’ GBV response services – 3 times more than the number originally targeted. Implementing partners: Centro Penc, INTERSOS, Medicins du Monde, Save the Children. The independent evaluation of the ‘RM Child-Health’ Initiative has taken stock of its impact in Italy since 2020. [2] It has confirmed that the Initiative’s preventive, cross-sectoral and comprehensive approach to health is helping to build long-term resilience. Italy is a prime example, as refugee flows into the country have changed in terms of their origins and arrival locations. More refugees are now arriving from Greece and Turkey, rather than via the North Africa route, and refugees are arriving in different locations, such as Calabria and Sardinia, rather than Lampedusa in Sicily. Some have landed on the shores of Roccella Ionica, for example, a small town of just 6,000 inhabitants in Calabria, where health facilities are limited. UNICEF and its partners have been able to draw on the experience of the ‘RM Child Health’ Initiative to create a resilient response by: mapping existing services at the regional level so partners can refer new arrivals setting up services at the disembarkation point as well as reception facilities, so the team at the disembarkation point can send key information to the team at the reception centre about the health needs of unaccompanied and separated refugee and migrant children, in particular. establishing networks of local authorities, service providers and non-governmental organizations to support the response drawing on the Initiative’s previous experience on psychological first aid, the information needs of refugees and migrants, and activities to reduce stress so that local partners have ‘ready-made’ solutions to offer new arrivals establishing a partnership with an association of cultural mediators that has a roster, enabling partners to mobilize mediators who speak different languages and who understand diverse cultures. The Initiative has also supported the mapping of best practices and ‘what works’ in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services for refugee and migrant children, as well as referral mechanisms. It has supported the development of materials in diverse languages that are now available for linguistic and cultural mediators, health workers, social workers and others. These include Q&As on subjects that are often sensitive and difficult for young refugees, migrants and even frontline workers to discuss, such as GBV and (in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund) sexual and reproductive health and rights. Most recently, the Initiative has supported the development, production and dissemination of clear information on menstrual hygiene. All materials have used clear, concise, user-friendly language to dispel the many myths and misconceptions around these issues. Realizing the greater difficulties faced by refugees and migrants in accessing services as a result of lockdowns, UNICEF’s partners in Italy continued to deliver remote and in-person health screenings and online psychological support and case management to those who were most vulnerable. [3] , [4] Brochures on immunization, GBV and mental health and MHPSS were disseminated during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as short videos on all these topics, which are available through U-Report on the Move. [5] The impact often went beyond health itself: UNICEF has enhanced the capacity of partners on Protection Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) [6] and shared indicators and tools to inform work with unaccompanied and separated children, strengthening the capacity of frontline staff to work with these children. [7] One partner also noted that support for documentation linked to COVID-19 resulted in more refugee and migrant children attending school (even if virtually) and a decrease in dropouts. [8]   This story is part of the Project ‘Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children’s Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe’, Co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative). It represents the views of the author only and is her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains. [1] Names of refugees and migrants have been changed to protect privacy. [2] IOD PARC , Evaluation of the UNICEF Project: Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children’s Health Status in Southern and South-Eastern Europe [3] International Professional staff. [4] Italy: detailed Implementation Plan, revised 01062020. [5] U-Report is a digital platform that lets young migrants and refugees in Italy speak out on issues that matter to them and be heard by decision makers: U-Report On The Move | Linktree [6] International Professional staff. [7] Government representative. [8] International Professional staff.
Page
09 Июнь 2021
Mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on children and families in the Western Balkans and Türkiye
https://www.unicef.org/eca/mitigating-impact-covid-19-children-and-families-western-balkans-and-t%C3%BCrkiye
There is abundant evidence that children bear a heavy burden resulting from disrupted essential services, increased social isolation, and loss of family income. In pandemic times, parents and caregivers are more likely to feel overwhelmed with providing stimulation and care for their young children and delay seeking prompt medical attention for children. Childhood immunization and other basic services were often suspended. School closures can mean a year of lost learning and children become more susceptible to dropping out. Uncertainties have created family distress, which contributes to serious mental health issues, especially among children who are vulnerable to violence and abuse. The pandemic has deepened pre-existing vulnerabilities of children with disabilities and children living in poverty. In 2021, UNICEF and the European Commission Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations launched a two-year initiative to strengthen national health, education, early childhood development, and child protection systems to ensure continuity in the provision of core services for vulnerable children and their families in the immediate and the longer-term recovery response to COVID-19. The initiative is being implemented in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* [1] , Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Türkiye.  
Article
08 Ноябрь 2022
From curiosity to confidence
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/curiosity-confidence
An independent evaluation of the Initiative has captured its impact on health policy implementation by frontline workers. The training of government officials and the staff of implementing partners has, for example, generated noticeable behaviour change in health service providers and the way in which they deliver services. [1] Importantly, it has also helped public health workers to develop more effective ways to cope with their own stress. [2] Feedback from pre- and post-training assessments has confirmed that knowledge has improved. [3] Services have been mapped out across the five countries, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been improved, and referral services that connect children and their caregivers to specialized health care have been enhanced. [4] ; [5] With support from the Initiative, public health officials interacted (often for the first time) with cultural mediators, resulting in greater appreciation for their vital work. The Initiative has also increased health professionals’ understanding of the importance of immunization and treatment of mental health issues, as well as raising awareness and understanding of substance abuse among children and adolescents. [6] ; [7] National partners now have greater capacity on key issues. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, for example, the International Organization for Migration now follows UNICEF’s protocol on the provision of baby formula milk. [8] In Italy, UNICEF was able to enhance the capacity of partners on Protection Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) [9] and disseminate indicators, tools and protocols to inform work with unaccompanied and separated children, which has strengthened the capacity of frontline staff to work with these children. [10] The Project also helped to increase the knowledge of public health institutions. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, cantonal health institutes are now better informed on refugee and migrant health conditions. [11] Targets for this aspect of the ‘RM Child-Health Initiative’ have often been exceeded. In Bulgaria, for example, the Initiative aimed to ensure that 30 health authorities, service providers and other frontline workers (disaggregated by authority) completed UNICEF-supported training on health issues for refugee and migrant children and international best practice. In all, 170 completed this training – more than five times the original target. In Serbia, around twice as many professionals were reached as originally intended, with workshops reaching a wide range of professionals, including educators, trainers, guardians from centres for social work, Commissariat staff, and frontline health staff such as doctors and psychologists. [12] This training is continuing to reach staff, even though the Initiative itself has come to an end. Training was delivered in a way that was relevant to participants and responsive to their needs. In Greece, for example, the starting point for the training was the existing knowledge and experience of participants, aiming to build their sense of ownership and engagement, and the training built on an assessment of their training needs. The communities participating in the training were also consulted to assess what kind of support to prioritize. This process revealed challenging areas that needed to be added to the training: working with vulnerable children; professional stress and burnout; and the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation. The training was also flexible, incorporating a module on how to deliver training online during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Lesvos, Greece, the needs assessment for the training found that kits for mothers contained breastmilk substitutes. A set of training materials was produced for a wide range of participants, including staff from non-governmental organizations, the state-run health provider and site management organizations as well as volunteers in the camps and other professional in Lesvos, such as teachers. These materials included a ‘truth or myth’ game for use with pregnant or lactating women. The training created a new network of people who have kept in touch, with some asking for more information on how to deal with specific cases. Implementing partners have noticed that training participants have started to collaborate in the camps, with midwives and volunteers, for example, working together. In one camp, there have been no requests for breastmilk substitutes since this initiative. [13]  
Article
13 Май 2021
Safeguarding the health of refugee and migrant children during COVID-19
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/safeguarding-health-refugee-and-migrant-children-during-covid-19
"When COVID arrived here, I thought: ‘It's over, it will spread throughout the building’. I didn't think it was possible to avoid the spread of the outbreak. Instead, we have had very few cases and we owe this, above all, to the support we received from INTERSOS and UNICEF."  Josehaly (Josy), a refugee living in Rome A field worker from Intersos fastens a mask for a young refugee girl in Rome. A field worker from Intersos fastens a mask for a young refugee girl in Rome. The ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative is funding work across five European countries to keep refugee and migrant children connected to health services. While the COVID-19 pandemic was not foreseen when the initiative was first launched, the strategic principles underpinning the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative – flexibility, responsiveness to real needs, and building on what works – meant that UNICEF and partners could swing into action to safeguard the health and wellbeing of refugee and migrant children and overcome intensified and unprecedented challenges. Since the launch of the 27-month ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative in January 2020, activities were adapted quickly to address access to health services during the COVID-19 crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Serbia. This €4.3 million initiative, co-funded by the European Union Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, has shown refugee and migrant children and families how to protect themselves and others, and that they have every right to health care – even in a pandemic. The rapid escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe in 2020 exacerbated the already worrying state of health and wellbeing of the region’s most vulnerable people, including refugee and migrant children, and has had a protracted impact on their access to health and other vital services. The situation has been particularly dire for refugees and migrants who are not in formal reception sites, and who are, therefore, harder to reach and monitor. Refugee and migrant families living in over-crowded conditions with limited access to sanitation are at high risk of infection. These communities have often had to face a ‘double lockdown’, confined to their settlements and camps and having little or no access to accurate information on protecting themselves and others.  The additional pressures have been severe. UNICEF and its partners in Bulgaria have seen appeals for support double from 30 to 60 cases per day. Far more refugees and asylum-seekers have been in urgent need of financial and material support, having lost their incomes because of the pandemic. There have been increased requests for support to meet the cost of medical care for children, which is not covered by the state budget, and more requests for psychosocial support. This increase in demand has, of course, coincided with serious challenges for service delivery. Restrictions on movement have curtailed in-person services, and partners have had to adapt the way in which they connect with refugees and migrants. The pandemic has had a direct impact on the provision of group sessions to share health-related information, as well as on the timely identification of children and women suffering from or at risk of health-related issues. The impact on vital services for timely and quality maternal and child health care, psychosocial support, recreational and non-formal services, and on services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) has been profound. In Bulgaria, UNICEF and its partners were able to take immediate measures with support from the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative to alleviate the impact, including online awareness raising and information sessions and the use of different channels for communication, including social media. UNICEF’s partners, the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (CRWB) and the Mission Wings Foundation (MWF) adapted service delivery to allow both face-to-face interaction (while maintaining social distancing for safety) as well as assistance online and by telephone. Partners were able to continue to provide direct social services support while also delivering online consultations to refugees and migrants on cases of violence, as well as referral to specialized services. In Greece, the initiative supported the development of child-friendly information posters and stickers for refugee and migrant children and their families on critical preventive measures and on what to do and where to go if they experience any COVID-19 symptoms. In Italy, the initiative has supported outreach teams and community mobilization, providing refugee and migrant families with the information and resources they need to keep the pandemic at bay. In Rome, for example, health promoters from Intersos continued to work directly with refugee and migrant communities in informal settlements, not only to prevent infection but also to keep their spirits high, as one health promoter explained: "We have organized housing modules that are not only designed to keep the community safe, but also to stop loneliness overwhelming the people forced into isolation. The entire community has assisted people affected by the virus by cooking, washing clothes and offering all possible support, particularly to the children."  UNICEF and its partners in Italy, as in other countries, have aimed to maintain continuity and unimpeded access to key services. Child protection, for example, has been mainstreamed into all project activities, and additional measures have been introduced, with a ramping up of activities to raise awareness and share information. UNICEF partners adapted quickly to the pandemic, with Médecins du Monde (MdM) activating a hotline number to provide remote counselling and psychological first aid (PFA). Centro Penc shifted to remote case management and individual psychological support, strengthening the capacity of cultural mediators to support GBV survivors, with UNICEF’s support. Young people were consulted and engaged through UNICEF’s online platform U-Report on the Move, with young U-reporters sharing information on the increased risks of GBV, as well as on available services. In Serbia, the initiative has supported UNICEF’s efforts to improve the immunization process for refugee children and migrants by strengthening the assessment and monitoring process. As a result of such efforts, refugees and migrants have been included in the national COVID-19 Immunization Plan.  
  • Предыдущая
    • 1
      • 1
      • 2
  • Следующий

Footer

Главная
  • Что мы делаем
  • Положение детей в регионе Европы и Центральной Азии
  • Где мы работаем
Исследования и отчеты
  • Публикации
  • Наши партнеры
  • Послы ЮНИСЕФ в Европе и Центральной Азии
Поддержать

Social - ru

Footer Secondary

  • Наши контакты
  • Условия пользования