Article
Providing the tools needed to inoculate against a deadly virus
Damascene Niyibizi is in the process of closing his shop in the bustling city suburb of Gahanga, Kicukiro District in Kigali. He pauses as he comes across a sticker, he had made about 2 years ago, urging his clients to observe the COVID-19 prevention measures when in his shop, and always. He sighs, and smiles to h...
Press release
COVID-19 pandemic fuels largest continued backslide in vaccinations in three decades
GENEVA/NEW YORK, –, The largest sustained decline in childhood vaccinations in approximately 30 years has been recorded in official data published today by WHO and UNICEF. The percentage of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) – a marker for immunization...
Press release
Two thirds of households with children have lost income during pandemic
NEW YORK, 10 March 2022 –, At least two-thirds of households with children have lost income since the COVID-19 pandemic hit two years ago, according to a new report published today by UNICEF and the World Bank. Impact of COVID-19 on the welfare of households with children – which presents findings from data collec...
Press release
Supporting access to COVID-19 vaccines in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia
10 February 2022, - UNICEF is to receive £1.5 million from the Scottish Government to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics in three African countries. The funds will support both the COVID-19 vaccination programmes and strengthening of the health systems in Rwanda, Zambia and Malawi, thro...
News note
COVID:19 Scale of education loss ‘nearly insurmountable’, warns UNICEF
NEW YORK, 24 January 2022 , – More than 635 million students remain affected by full or partial school closures. On the International Day of Education and as the COVID-19 pandemic nears its two-year mark, UNICEF shares the latest available data on the impact of the pandemic on children’s learning. “In March, we will mark two years of COVID-19-related disruptions to global…, Children have lost basic numeracy and literacy skills, . Globally, disrup...
Article
All hands on deck: From COVID-19 skeptics to health champions
It is a sunny Thursday afternoon and the central market at Mahama Refugee Camp in Eastern Rwanda is bustling with people coming in and out. Loud music can be heard blaring from one corner of the market, where a small crowd has gathered. In between musical breaks, a salesman is heard making his pitch, urging market...
Article
Continuing Foundational Learning despite COVID-19
Mahama Refugee Camp, Eastern Rwanda, - “I want to be a teacher when I grow up,” says a beaming Dorcas Manishimwe, responding to her teacher. “I want to care for children just like you.” Dorcas is a pre-primary learner at an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre at the Mahama Refugee Camp in Eastern Rwanda. For ...
Article
All IN: a collective push to overcome a deadly pandemic
Western Rwanda - Meet Dorcas Nishimwe, a 20-year old girl living in Rubavu, a district bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her hair is woven into short dreadlocks, a red bandana keeping the strands of hair in check. A megawatt smile completes the picture of a beautiful, fearless, and energetic young lady, ...
Press release
Impact of COVID-19 on poor mental health in children and young people ‘tip of the iceberg’ – UNICEF
NEW YORK, 5 October 2021, – Children and young people could feel the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and well-being for many years to come, UNICEF warned in its flagship report today. According to The State of the World’s Children 2021; On My Mind: promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental h...
Press release
New storybook to help children stay hopeful during COVID-19
GENEVA/NEW YORK, 24 September 2021 , – A new book published today aims to help children stay hopeful and positive during the COVID-19 pandemic. The story is a sequel to My Hero is You: how kids can fight COVID-19! , published in April 2020. Both books have been released by a collaboration of 60 organizations worki...
Article
Using radio to provide credible information during a pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a widespread impact not just in Rwanda but across the world. Businesses have shut down, the economy has faltered, lives have been lost, jobs forfeited, and the social fabric that has long held societies together has been stretched to breaking point. Despite all the challenges, Rwandan...
Article
Fighting the spread of COVID-19, one house at a time
KIREHE, Rwanda, – The pathway leading to Daphrose’s house is long, winding, and full of slippery rocks. However, Anaclet is unfazed as he makes his way to the house, determined to complete his mission. A farmer by trade, Musoni Anaclet also volunteers his time to serve as a community-based volunteer in his vi...