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Once scarcely equipped for complex surgeries, the Chirchik perinatal centre, in the heart of Uzbekistan’s Tashkent region, recently rose to a great challenge: the successful delivery and separation of conjoined twins Fotima and Zuhra. The story which started with two heartbeats holding onto hope grew firmer each day. Today the baby girls are…, Life-saving perinatal care , On the fateful day Ogiloy would become a second-time mother, when she had to undergo emergency labour at 33 weeks of pregnancy, it was not in a large metropolitan hospital where the miracle would occur, but at the modest Chirchik centre. Fortunately, the centre was one of the 230 across the country that were transformed into modern perinatal care…, Care for all premature babies, The Fund has granted $43.5 million to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health for the revamping of maternal and perinatal care through a collaboration spearheaded by UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO. The Fund’s health project – one of its flagship initiatives – targets all perinatal centres across Uzbekistan.   Beyond equipment upgrades, healthcare workers acquired…, “We won”, In the Tashkent region, Ogiloy’s mother-in-in-law, Zuhra Khudoyberdieva, is a proud and beaming grandmother who helps care for her grandchildren. She shares with Ogiloy, Fotima and Zuhra this remarkable tale of triumph against the odds. “At an ultrasound visit, a doctor told us that the twins were conjoined, but two hearts were beating,” recalls…

The consequences of climate change are already affecting children all over the world. Climate change causes extreme weather events such as severe droughts and floods, and threatens people’s access to water and sanitation as water sources become more polluted and scarcer.       UNICEF operates globally to make sure that children and their families…, Water just a step away, A solar-powered water supply system built by UNICEF has ensured that 2,500 people living in Khormaloq village in Afghanistan’s Farah Province now have clear water on their doorstep. In total, UNICEF has constructed 34 climate-resilient water supply systems in Faryab, Helmand and Farah, providing more than 69,000 people with access to safe drinking…, More time to play, “I used to wake up, have my breakfast and walk to the river to fetch water. When the buckets were empty, my brothers and I had to go to fetch water again. It was tiring”, recalls Luis Carlos, a 13-year-old boy who lives in the Sᾶo Francisco Macuxi indigenous community in Roraima state, Brazil. The water he fetched from the river was not treated,…, Water services’ transformative power, "We used to walk 50–60 kilometres without finding water. Our children missed school, and our livestock suffered and died. The river water we collected caused many diseases and problems," recalls Mary Lokwalop, a mother of five. Mary lives in Kalopiria, a village in Turkana, which is one of Kenya’s driest and most water-insecure regions and that…, Enhanced safety with easier water access, “I go quickly and return, and the water is clean. I feel very happy.”  14-year-old Nashwa In Nashwa’s home, as in many others around Sudan, the responsibility of collecting water falls on girls. Before UNICEF built a safe water facility near her home, she walked up to three hours daily in search of water. Sometimes she had to go even further when…, Rainwater harvesting ensuring health and education, With UNICEF’s support, 55 schools across Dien Bien – one of Viet Nam’s most water vulnerable provinces – are using a rainwater-harvesting and treatment system to provide clean water to children, teachers and staff.  The climate-smart technology treats rainwater, making it safe for daily use, which means children can stay healthy and keep learning…

Israt reaches for her mother Runa’s hand passing down the UNICEF blue pitcher filled with fresh drinking water. Five-year-old Israt is a little taller than the raised platform of the tubewell near their house, in Feni District, Bangladesh. The tubewell was constructed with UNICEF’s support at one-meter height to prevent submersion during floods…, Climate resilience, As the floodwaters receded, UNICEF, in partnership with the Bangladesh’s Department of Public Health Engineering, began the critical task of recovery. In hard-hit areas such as Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, Lakshmipur and Khagrachagri, efforts focused on disinfecting water points, repairing and elevating damaged latrines, restoring piped water networks…, ‘I thought I wouldn´t survive’, When the floods lashed through eastern Bangladesh, with Feni district at the epicentre, Runa’s village was not ready. “Even my grandparents didn’t experience such floods,” shares Runa as she remembers how the water came up to her chin.  For Runa and her community, a flood of such intensity, such devastation, was unlike anything they had ever…, The first line of defence, UNICEF was on the ground since day one to assess the situation and deliver urgent support. Water purification tablets, jerry-cans, water, and sanitation and hygiene kits filled with other essential items were distributed to families in need.  “With pre-positioned life-saving supplies at strategic government-owned locations throughout the country,…

Fatigued, apathetic and extremely thin. At just eight months old, Miracle was rushed to Bo Government Hospital in southern Sierra Leone where he was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. At the health facility, Miracle received immediate treatment, including Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) . This life-…, Responding faster to treatment  , At the treatment centre, nurses also encouraged Miracle’s parents to gently play with him whenever he was more alert.   “Integrating play into the inpatient facility treatment process is critical in helping malnourished children respond faster to treatment,” explains nurse Hannah, who looked after Miracle when he underwent the treatment.   WHO…, Recovery continues at home, Thanks to the timely RUTF treatment, Miracle’s condition improved significantly, and he was soon well enough to be discharged from the treatment centre.   But his recovery did not end at the hospital doors. Miracle’s parents received RUTF sachets to support continued treatment at home. In addition to the RUTF, Miracle’s parents also learnt the…, A holistic approach to malnutrition treatment, Adopting a holistic approach to malnutrition treatment, UNICEF integrates cut-out toy designs on its RUTF packaging, and trains treatment facility staff to use these to inspire parents to play with their recovering children. The designs are developed in partnership with design and packaging experts from the LEGO, IKEA and Mondi, as well as early-…

Imagine trying to practice your handwriting sitting on a concrete floor and without a desk. Imagine this in a classroom so crowded that groups of students have to rotate in and out due to lack of space. This was the daily reality for Soanomena, now 12 years old, when she first started school in Ankaranabo in southern Madagascar. Born into a family…, Will, effort and hard work, In the past, there was only a primary school in Ankaranabo Nord. Children as young as 11 had to walk 15 kilometers each way to the nearest secondary school. Trekking 30 kilometers every day to get to school and back home was a heavy toll on the children, and in 2009 the local authorities decided to create the Ankaranabo Collège d'Enseignement…, Rocketing enrollment numbers, Together with partners, UNICEF works on several fronts to bring children into the education system and to improve the quality of their learning. In Ankaranabo, a UNICEF initiative has resulted in the construction of four new classrooms, modern classroom furniture, education materials, a sports field and hand-washing facilities. Separate bathrooms…

For 13-year-old Pheaktra Vuth, getting to school is nothing short of an adventure. She crosses streams and braves heavy monsoon rains, often relying on a canoe, to reach Srer Chhouk Primary School, the only school in her remote district in Cambodia’s Kratie Province.   At the school, where four teachers educate 100 students up to the sixth grade,…, Reflections of change , Everything changed when the school's water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities were upgraded with UNICEF’s support. The once cramped and dark bathrooms were replaced with spacious and light-filled facilities with separate rooms for boys, girls and students with disabilities. The new hand-washing stations also have soap, clean water and large…, The domino effect  , Pheaktra’s best friend Chac Chin, who walks to school with her younger sister, has noticed another important change:    “We get sick less often now. Before, the bathrooms were not clean, and we didn't have soap. Now, everything is different; we study, we play, and we stay healthy," Chac says.  The new facilities have not only improved hygiene but…

In a small community on the outskirts of the city of Makassar on the Indonesian island Sulawesi, 47-year-old Yuli Yanti sits with her daughter and nieces, reflecting on the diagnosis that changed her life and sent shockwaves through her family.   She recalls the early symptoms of illness – heavy bleeding and pain – accompanied by months of…, Overcoming misconceptions, The Indonesia HPV vaccination programme offers free immunization to girls aged 11 and 12 years, and has overcome significant obstacles. Cultural barriers, misinformation and supply chain challenges – especially in rural and underserved communities – have threatened to slow progress. Many parents fear that vaccinating girls before puberty might…, Reaching girls in and out-of-school, In urban centers such as Jakarta, Makassar and Surabaya, schools are essential in ensuring that girls receive the vaccination as part of immunization drives every August and November. However, reaching girls in urban slums and remote rural areas, and girls who do not go to school is far more complex. Both health workers and local NGOs play a vital…, Vast potential, By reaching girls both in and out of formal education, HPV immunization has vast potential to propel Indonesia to achieve its goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030. The HPV vaccine was administered to nearly 90 per cent of the girls targeted for their first dose in 2023. In addition, a catch-up immunization for 15-year-old girls is planned…, A future without cervical cancer, Embedded video follows

Enjoying a fresh mango without worrying about contamination, confidently bringing babies to a healthcare centre or having a refreshing bath before heading to school. These are a few highlights of routines that families in several villages in Malawi’s Machinga District are experiencing. Thanks to the installation of UNICEF's solar-powered water…, Freshly bathed and on time for school, “We would leave home thirsty, stay in class thirsty and return home just as thirsty.” Laika Gray, a 12-year-old student at Msambira Primary School. For generations, the thought of clean, running water at Msambira Primary School and its surrounding villages was a far-fetched dream. Situated in the remote corners of Machinga District, the school and…, Wave of health consciousness  , Everything changed in 2024 when UNICEF completed the installation of a solar-powered system with six water points to deliver treated water directly to the school and four surrounding villages.   “The impact has been extraordinary,” says Maria Maulana, the headteacher at Msambira Primary School. “Students now arrive on time, freshly bathed and…, “Water right at our doorstep”, Mother to five children, Melise Madeya’s daily routine once revolved around fetching water. Every day, she had to walk a long distance, often in the heat, to the borehole that served her family and the entire Mchelera village. There she would endure long waits in the queue.   "Sometimes the water from the borehole wasn’t even clean and we were…, Waterborne diseases  , The solar-powered water system has improved the health, security and livelihoods of families in Melise’s neighbourhood. Prior to the project, Chipolonga Health Post, which serves the area, struggled with frequent outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases.   “Due to prolonged dry spells and scarcity of water, we were recording many cases…, Clean healthcare environment, Before the installation of a solar-powered water system, the Masanje river was Chikuluma Health Post’s main source of water. This was a major obstacle to providing proper healthcare to the community as the river’s water is not safe.   "We struggled with hygiene due to lack of clean water, but now we can disinfect equipment and maintain a clean…

As a single mother from a modest neighbourhood in the city of Gonaïves in Haiti, 30-year-old Nathalie faces overwhelming challenges. Without a stable income, she struggles to put food on the table. "Sometimes, we go days without eating. I do my best, but it’s never enough," she confesses, her voice heavy with sadness. Amid the country’s crisis,…, A life-changing encounter, The situation took a dramatic turn when Nathalie visited the K-Soleil health centre for Shleydine to be vaccinated. There, the healthcare staff quickly diagnosed the infant with severe malnutrition. "I didn’t realize how sick she was. I came for a vaccine, and they told me she needed immediate care," Nathalie explains. With support from UNICEF,…, A shared struggle for many, Shleydine’s story is not unique. At the K-Soleil health centre, thousands of families have been supported to overcome malnutrition. Stacy Gabriel, another mother, shares her daughter’s battle. "I knew my nine-month-old baby was malnourished, but I had lost everything during my pregnancy, including my business," she explains. After learning about…, A healthier future for children and families in Gonaïves, The centre has been a lifeline for thousands of families like Nathalie and Stacy’s. Today, both women have a renewed sense of hope and optimism. While challenges remain, Nathalie believes she is now better equipped to provide a safer future for her child. They gave me more than care; they gave me the chance to watch my daughter grow up healthy,"…

Living with epilepsy and cerebral palsy, ten-year-old Define Chinodya from Epworth, a rural area outside Harare, Zimbabwe, has impaired mobility, posture and coordination. Simple movements like walking, sitting and even speaking are daily struggles for her.   Some in the community did not understand Define’s immobility and difficulty communicating…, But everything changed, As part of Zimbabwe’s nationwide drive for inclusive education, Define received a wheelchair that has transformed her life.  For the first time, she is enrolled in school.  Dressed in a blue tracksuit and matching hat, she sits on her new wheelchair at Chinamano Primary School.  For Define, class takes place in a specialized classroom designed to…, Making inclusive education a reality in Zimbabwe, In Zimbabwe, UNICEF provides assistive devices to children with disabilities, like Define, in poor and rural communities, helping make inclusive education a reality. So far, 77,000 children with disabilities across the country have received assistive devices through UNICEF, supporting a wide range of needs, including visual, hearing and physical…

Wednesday mornings at the Choggu Yapalisi junior high school in the city of Tamale in Ghana are anything but ordinary for 15-year-old Mashud Nuratu Tunteya. As the clock strikes 9, the school transforms into a health clinic of sorts, as Tunteya and her fellow female students receive combined iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets.   This weekly ritual…, Students and teachers join up as champions, Tunteya remembers how she used to feel before her school launched the IFA initiative with UNICEF’s support. Hopelessly tired, she often missed school and it was difficult for her to concentrate. But when the weekly boost of iron and folic acid kicked in, her health, well-being and everyday life changed radically for the better.   "Now, I can…, Multiple benefits, "I've seen a remarkable improvement in their overall health, especially when it comes to their periods," Zuweira shares with a smile. "In the past, many girls would miss school due to menstrual pain, but now they're able to attend classes regularly and concentrate better in class." The iron and folic acid supplements benefit these girls in…, Overcoming scepticism and discrimination, The road to classrooms brimming with vivacious and enthusiastic girls at the Choggu Yapalisi junior high school wasn't always smooth. Zuweira faced initial scepticism from both students and teachers, some questioning why only girls received the tablets.   "It was a challenging time," Zuweira admits. “But through education and open dialogue, we…

“We can’t study in school buildings but, in the basement, we don’t hear the explosions and it’s not scary.” Tykhon, 9 years old. Tykhon is attending school in a basement in the city of Pavlohrad in eastern Ukraine. The city endures regular missile attacks that frequently damage civilian infrastructure, leaving it without heating and running water…, Reduced heat loss, "This year, we were able to start the heating season thanks to UNICEF's support," says Volodymyr Perelyotov, Chief Engineer at Pavlohrad’s heating utility company. The UNICEF-supported project includes repairing equipment damaged by shelling, replacing worn-out assets and introducing modern technologies.  Volodymyr Perelyotov explains that the…, Stable water supply, "Water supply in Pavlohrad is stable now, with no prolonged interruptions recently,” says Maryna Artemenko, head of the production and technical department at Pavlohrad’s water utility company. “But the high wear and tear of the networks, which are 255 kilometres long, have led to almost daily incidents – more than 300 per year, making water…