WCARO GUINEA BISSAU: EMERGENCY SUMMARY
© UNICEF Guinea-Bissau/Pirozzi
A growth-monitoring evaluation at Central Hospital in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau. Health and education services have been weakened by political instability and a stagnant economy.
CRITICAL ISSUES FOR CHILDREN
Guinea-Bissau is hardly recovering from the armed conflict in 1998-1999, which has resulted in political instability, insecurity and stagnation or slowing down of the economy affecting the already weak governmental structures and private sector. The social sectors, particularly health and education, have been severely affected and the continuing political instability and structural weaknesses pose a major challenge in the delivery of quality and adequate health services. Results from the latest Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2006) indicate an increase of the child mortality rates, and maternal mortality is also high with 1,100 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Only 38 per cent of the population has access to drinkable water; and a mere 30 per cent of the population has knowledge of minimum hygiene practices. Malaria, acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea and malnutrition remain the major killers of children.
PLANNED HUMANITARIAN ACTION FOR 2008
Health and nutrition: Approximately 120,000 of the most vulnerable under-five children and 36,000 pregnant women living in rural areas will benefit from the following key activities: distribution of essential drugs, micronutrients and health kit equipment to 60 health centres; training of 120 health staffs in quality management of malaria, diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections and severe malnutrition; training of 480 community health workers in providing basic health and nutrition services as well as the promotion of family health and nutrition good practices; provision of long-lasting insecticidal nets for some 30,000 newborn and 30,000 pregnant women; support to 14 existing therapeutic feeding centres run by Caritas for the benefit of 200 severely malnourished children; and support to two rounds of vitamin A supplementation and deworming for all 200,000 under-five children.
Water, sanitation and hygiene: Some 120,000 people, focusing particularly on children and women, will be reached through the following activities: drilling of 50 new boreholes and rehabilitation of 100 existing boreholes to provide safe drinking water; construction of 1,000 community latrines in villages; training of 100 water local management committee members and local water authority on management, operation and maintenance; promotion of health and hygiene education and hygiene awareness in 50 schools and 500 local communities; monitoring and evaluation of the project.
|Summary of UNICEF financial needs for 2008|
|Health and nutrition||520,000|
|Water, sanitation and hygiene||350,000|
* The total includes a maximum recovery rate of 7 per cent. The actual recovery rate on contributions will be calculated in accordance with UNICEF Executive Board Decision 2006/7 dated 9 June 2006.
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