United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

One of the United Nations' specialized agencies is the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund. Formerly known as UNICEF (United Nations worldwide children's Emergency Fund), it was founded in 1946. The United Nations Children's Fund is its new name. The United Nations in New York is home to the UNICEF's main office.

Introduction

On December 11, 1946, the United Nations formed UNICEF to provide for the immediate needs of children in post-World War II Europe and China. In 1950, UNICEF's mandate was expanded to include providing for the long-term needs of women and children in all developing nations. When UNICEF joined the UN system permanently in 1953, its name was changed to the United Nations Children's Fund, but the acronym remained the same. To further speed up the sustainable achievement of MDGs 1, 4, and 5, UNICEF is assisting the Government of Nepal with health and nutrition efforts. The present health and nutrition programming is rights-based and results-based, and it is guided by humanitarian ideals.

The work of UNICEF focuses on the most vulnerable people and on reducing inequity. UNICEF has a strong presence in the field, in addition to assisting the government in strengthening ongoing health and nutrition programs, interventions, and institutional frameworks at the policy and planning levels. and is collaborating with district line agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations to pilot new, innovative interventions and community-based approaches such as the Decentralized Action for Children and Women (DACAW) program, the Newborn Care Package, and others. Lessons learned and best practices are communicated to policymakers through national advocacy and existing government planning and reviews, such as collaborative planning and annual reviews for national scale-up. Furthermore, UNICEF strongly advocates for and supports the sector-wide approach (SWAP) for health and nutrition, with the goal of strengthening governance for adequate resource allocation and responsive service delivery.

Aims and Objectives of UNICEF

• Lower newborn and under-five mortality

•  Reduced maternal mortality

• Lowering moderate and severe malnutrition

•  Access to safe drinking water for all

•  All children have equal access to and completion of basic education.

•  To provide all health posts with necessary equipment and supplies (drugs).

•  To give schoolchildren with books and educational materials.

•  Assist in the organization of literacy programs and the renovation/maintenance of elementary school structures.

•  To assist women in advancing their position by assisting them in income-generating activities.

Activities of UNICEF

• Child health
  The substantial aid provided by UNICEF for the production of vaccines and sera in many countries aids in the universal immunization of children against six major diseases. Community-based integrated management of childhood illness (CB-IMCI) includes the use of zinc to treat diarrhoea, a community drug program, and the FCHV program, which includes technical assistance, training, and supplies.

• Health sector supports
  As co-chair of the Health Sectors EDPS, UNICER encourages harmonization and greater aid effectiveness in accordance with the Paris Declaration.

• Expanded program for immunization (EPI)
  Routine immunization, polio eradication, school immunization to maintain maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination, measles control, vaccine introduction into routine immunization-technical assistance EPI supplies, training, operational and planning costs, and communication

•  Maternal and new born health
  Strengthening emergency obstetric newborn care in health facilities and skilled attendance in health posts, technical assistance with district MNH plans planning and implementation, training, and community mobilization

•  HIV/AIDS
  Prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child (PMTCT), capacity building for pediatric AIDS treatment, development of guidelines and IEC materials UNICEF obtained medications to treat HIV-positive youngsters.

• Vitamin 'A' deficiency
  Biannual vitamin A distribution to children aged 6-59 months, vitamin A case management, postpartum supplementation, and promotion of vitamin A-rich foods supplies promotional campaigns emergency logistics, support, and coverage surveys

• Iodine deficiency control
  Promotion of the two-child logo iodized packed salt-media campaign merchandising, capacity & IEC building & advocacy activities for awareness creation coordination & logistics support to improve packet salt availability and accessibility & community-based social marketing campaign in the central and eastern Terai

•  Iron deficiency anemia control
  Deworming of pregnant women during biannual vitamin A distribution, community-based distribution of iron supplement to pregnant women by FCHVS supplies operational support expansion of iron intensification project, Coverage surveys, support to design innovative approaches, e.g. distribution of micronutrient sprinkles to address anemia in young children.

• Emergency health and nutrition
  Response and readiness co-chair of the emergency health and nutrition working group – technical assistance need assessments, supply pre-positioning, and replenishment