March 20, 2010
Mother- and child- friendly hospitals in Cuba provide newborns a healthy start to life
The reach and quality of child-and mother-friendly hospitals in Cuba sets one of the highest standards in the world. The hospitals offer a number of interventions that benefit both mothers and their babies. One such intervention is a "skin-to-skin" ward for underweight babies. Babies remain in the hospital with their mothers, living in close physical contact with them. The practice serves as an alternative to an incubator and provides infants with a better connection to mother and family.
March 19, 2010
Reducing gender-based violence against girls and women in Côte d'Ivoire
A significant number of girls and women continue to be victims of gender-based violence in Côte d'Ivoire. UNICEF is changing behavior and attitudes towards gender-based violence through community mobilization and sensitization campaigns. As a result of the campaigns victims are no longer rejected and isolated by society. More and more girls and their families are speaking out against sexual violence by reporting cases to authorities and advocating for a stringent application of the law.
March 19, 2010
Eliminating Polio in Senegal
A massive immunization campaign to eliminate Polio is underway in Senegal. 12,700 trained volunteers are going door-to-door to immunize 2.2 million children. This year the debilitating disease re-emerged in Senegal after being eliminated in 1998. Immunization remains the best defense against polio's spread, as the disease is highly contagious and irreversible once contracted. UNICEF with the Joint Global Polio Eradication Initiative is working to eliminate the disease by immunizing all children under five in the country.
March 18, 2010
Dancing to improve morale in refugee camps
In the recently closed Al-Tanf refugee camp on the Syrian-Iraqi border, UNICEF used dance therapy to boost children's spirits. Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that is a blend of dance, music and self-defense. With all efforts focused on food security, the educational and psycho-social needs of the camp's children were often secondary. UNICEF worked with a partner to bring Capoeira to the camp, and after just 20 weekly sessions families noticed a marked improvement in children's mood.
March 18, 2010
Innovative "Mother to Baby" pack to help reduce HIV transmission in Lesotho
UNICEF has developed an innovative "Mother to Baby Pack" to help reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The color-coded take home box clearly separates anti-retroviral drugs so expectant mothers can manage their regimen. This allows mothers who are unable to reach health centers to continue preventive treatment and protect their babies. Health experts expect that this measure will dramatically reduce the number of babies born with HIV in Lesotho.
