Luxembourg gives 5 million euros to UNICEF to promote child health in Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, 28th December 2022 - UNICEF welcomes Luxembourg’s contribution of 5 million euros for the Prevention and Reduction of Child Rheumatic heart Disease in Mongolia (PCRD).

Rheumatism is the most commonly acquired heart disease globally in people under the age of 25. It starts as a sore throat from a bacterium called Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) which can spread easily from one person to another. In Mongolia, according to 10-year morbidity data (2011-2021) for all Mongolians, 29.1 per cent of all morbidity cases were among children. In 2022, respiratory tract infections were the most common for all age categories under 15, per 1000 children (Center for Health Development, 2022).

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Government of Luxembourg on behalf of UNICEF Mongolia for its generous contribution made in support of the health of most vulnerable children in Mongolia. Investing in the Prevention and Reduction of Child Rheumatic heart Disease is one of the most cost-effective interventions to ensure a reduction in Child congenital diseases” says Evariste Kouassi-Komlan, UNICEF Representative in Mongolia.  

Every year, the disease claims 288,348 lives worldwide. The earlier it is detected; the earlier action is taken which leads to a better health outcome.

UNICEF Mongolia’s Rheumatic prevention programme aims to screen girls and boys, including adolescents, at an early stage for Rheumatic heart Disease and streptococcus pharyngitis. To do this, the programme works with medical workers that are capable of using existing equipment to ensure a better diagnosis for child heart disease and other non-communicable diseases.

Additionally, the programme will create an enabling environment conducive for antenatal care and early infancy and adolescents’ health, as well as train doctors, nurses and health workers for an improved capacity in diagnosing and using existing equipment for early screening of congenital heart disease (CHD) and other non-communicable diseases among infant children. Finally, the programme will promote healthy lifestyles including good hygiene through targeted awareness raising campaigns.