Lifesaving Immunization for Children
Every since its first tuberculosis campaign in 1947, UNICEF has been a leader in global immunization. Today we provide vaccine to 40 percent of the world’s children and help save two million lives a year. But thousands of children still die needlessly every day from diseases like measles, polio, or tuberculosis. UNICEF is committed to vaccinating every single child against preventable childhood diseases.
When war or natural disaster strikes, we do whatever it takes to get children immunized. We help broker ceasefires so that we can enter a war-torn region and vaccinate its children. After a disaster, we go door-to-door in the remotest areas to distribute lifesaving vaccines.
Malaria Prevention and More
But protecting a child’s health goes beyond immunization. We are the world’s largest provider of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, which help protect families from malaria. We provide healthcare to young children and their mothers, to make sure that every child gets a healthy start in life.
UNICEF is especially dedicated to helping girls and women, who often suffer the biggest neglect. In Nicaragua, UNICEF supports over 40 maternal homes—safe places where young mothers-to-be can receive medical help and support. And in India, we provide taxis that bring pregnant women to a hospital who could otherwise not afford to go.
We are determined to stop the needless deaths of children from preventable disease. And we believe that all children deserve the healthiest possible start in life. Their future—and ours—depends on it.
Related Links
June 10, 2008
Taking time to immunize children even in an emergency
Prevention of epidemics is a standard response in almost any emergency; but in an emergency such as this, in which large populations are crossing borders, it is vital to not only protect the children and families living in the refugee camps, but also those from the host community—in this case, Cameroonian children and families.
April 25, 2008
Nations unite for World Malaria Day 2008
Ten years after UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and their partners launched the Roll Back Malaria initiative, malaria is still the single largest child killer in Africa. The disease takes the lives of some 3,000 children per day.
April 16, 2008
Improving healthcare and education for children with disabilities in Vietnam
No matter where in the world children with disabilities live, it takes a concerted effort to help them reach their full potential. It often requires special knowledge and is never easy. Nowhere is this more true than in the developing world.
