Health and well-being
For every child, a healthy life
A changing context
Maldives has made great strides in fulfilling children and young people’s right to survive and thrive.
The country has achieved – and exceeded – global targets in child and maternal mortality. It has sustained 98 per cent universal childhood immunization coverage. Diseases including malaria, measles and polio have been eliminated.
But maintaining these successes is critical. And new challenges are emerging – challenges that threaten young people’s nutrition, health and mental health. Challenges that will shape their futures.
Challenges
Sustaining successes and tackling rising challenges has required UNICEF Maldives to focus on nutrition, noncommunicable diseases and mental health.
Nutrition
In Maldives, large percentages of children suffer from the triple burden of malnutrition – micronutrient deficiency, stunting and obesity. Data indicate that:
- 50% of Maldivians suffer from overweight issues
- 20% of women deal with obesity
- 60% of girls and women deal with anaemia
Noncommunicable diseases
Success in addressing infectious diseases has unveiled new health hazards posed by noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
These dangers most often are linked to unhealthy lifestyles – habits formed in childhood that have profound effects on a person’s health and future. The culprits include unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and smoking. A rise in use of drugs and other substances also present growing threats to children and young people’s futures.
Mental health
Data on children and young people’s mental health are limited. However, children and young people consistently indicate that they face significant risks to their mental health and well-being. Risks to mental health came to the forefront of public discussion during the shutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, stigma remains and keeps children and young people from seeking help.
UNICEF in action
UNICEF works to maintain successes of the past while also addressing emerging health and nutrition challenges with programmatic work and innovative flagship initiatives.
Maintaining success
UNICEF works with the Government of Maldives and partners in the health sector to ensure that successes of the past continue into the future.
To maintain high levels of routine immunization, UNICEF Maldives collaborates with the Ministry of Health on vaccine procurement, cold chain maintenance and the training of immunizers and health professionals. We also communicate and advocate to remind parents, families and communities that immunization saves lives.
UNICEF also works to strengthen the systems that protect mothers and babies – before, during and after birth. These systems emphasize the importance of prenatal and antenatal care, essentials for ensure a healthy start to life.
This work includes an emphasis on the importance of primary health care systems. To foster this approach to health, UNICEF interacts with community healthcare workers – a corps of professionals who in a position to bring preventative healthcare closer to children.
