Health

TRIPOLI, Libya, 5 November 2020 – UNICEF and WHO are extremely concerned over severe shortages of critical vaccines in Libya that threaten the health of the country’s children. Over the past 7 months, unprecedented vaccine shortages in the country have disrupted children’s immunization schedules and put them at risk of disease and death. There has…

NEW YORK, 27 October 2020 – "COVID-19 has dramatically exposed the weaknesses in health systems worldwide. Lending new urgency to our collective work to build stronger primary health care systems for the future.  "As we respond to this pandemic, this work must continue.   "In fact, a truly effective and sustainable response to COVID-19 goes beyond…

The scale of the COVID-19 crisis has been unprecedented. National governments in many countries continue to grapple with the challenges of reaching their populations with the tools they need to fight COVID-19, while also working to recover from the economic and social impacts of the pandemic. Since the start, UNICEF has been working to address the…, Find out more about UNICEF’s work, Child health and survival, The pandemic has taught everyone how important global health is and the deep inequities that exist. UNICEF is working tirelessly to make sure that every child has the access to the health care and nutrition they need to not only survive, but thrive.  Learn more, Working with donors and partners, UNICEF is reaching millions of children and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, thanks to the generous support of our donors and partners. Learn more, Responding with life-saving supplies, Despite major disruptions to global supply chains, UNICEF has been working around the clock to deliver critical supplies. Discover the items UNICEF is procuring and delivering around the world. Learn more, COVID-19 data and research, Access quality data to inform the response to the pandemic. Learn more, Children and COVID-19 research library, Visit an online, curated library of the latest research around COVID-19 and children. Learn more, Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A), The Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) is groundbreaking collaboration to bring COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments to everyone, everywhere. Learn more, COVAX information centre, Read about the largest vaccine supply operation ever, launched to ensure that all countries and territories participating in COVAX have equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Learn more, Guidance and support for parents, Get expert tips and guidance on how to support your family and navigate the pandemic. Learn more, The learning crisis, Education systems were already failing our children even before the pandemic. COVID-19 has exacerbated this learning crisis and children in almost every country have fallen behind in their learning. Find out how UNICEF is tackling the learning crisis head on. Learn more, Recent news and features, Responding to COVID-19 around the world, From delivering vaccines and other life-saving health supplies, to building water and hygiene facilities, to keeping girls and boys connected to education and protection, UNICEF has been working to slow the spread of COVID-19 and minimize its impact on children worldwide. Read more about UNICEF’s impact across the globe:

Polio remains an urgent global challenge and one that has been complicated this year by COVID-19. We are close to achieving eradication: Since 1988, the number of children affected by polio has reduced by 99 per cent – from 350,000 cases in 125 countries, to fewer than 200 cases today in just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. UNICEF…

NEW YORK, 19 October 2020 – As the world awaits a COVID-19 vaccine, UNICEF has begun laying the groundwork for the rapid, safe and efficient delivery of the eventual vaccine by purchasing and pre-positioning syringes and other necessary equipment. As soon as COVID-19 vaccines successfully emerge from trials and are licensed and recommended for use…

NEW YORK/ GENEVA, 8 October 2020– Almost 2 million babies are stillborn every year – or 1 every 16 seconds – according to the first ever joint stillbirth estimates released by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank Group and the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The vast…

One stillbirth occurs every 16 seconds, which means that about 2 million babies are stillborn every year. While available data demonstrate that stillbirths are an increasingly critical global health problem, this traumatic loss of life remains a neglected issue in many countries. This new release of the first-ever joint stillbirth estimates by the…

Since the Every Woman Every Child movement was launched 10 years ago, there has been remarkable progress in improving the health of the world’s women, children, and adolescents, including reducing maternal and child mortality and improving child nutrition and education. However, conflict, climate instability, and the COVID-19 pandemic are putting…

NEW YORK, 25 September 2020 – Fragile gains made to advance women and children’s health are threatened by conflict, the climate crisis and COVID-19, according to a new report from Every Woman Every Child. Protect the Progress: Rise, Refocus, Recover, 2020 highlights that since the Every Woman Every Child movement was launched 10 years ago,…

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is of a scale most people alive today have never seen. Worldwide, the outbreak is claiming lives and livelihoods as health systems buckle, education is disrupted and families struggle to stay afloat.  Communities across the globe are rising to the challenge – from health and social workers risking their…, What is UNICEF doing to support children during COVID-19? , Our response to the coronavirus disease must reimagine a world fit for every child. History has shown that UNICEF, together with partners, has the experience and reach to improve the lives of millions of children and their families. We were there for the post-World War II refugee crisis – and have responded to every natural disaster, armed…

18 September 2020 | Geneva – The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF today signed a new collaborative framework which will accelerate joint public health efforts that put the most marginalized and vulnerable populations first. The new Strategic Collaboration Framework builds on a robust 70-year collaboration between the two organizations,…

As countries make decisions to reopen schools, there are unique considerations related to opening early childhood education (ECE) settings, in order to ensure holistic approaches to nurturing care and learning for young children. Reopening ECE settings can provide children with much-needed emotional support and learning opportunities, and it…