DUSHANBE, June 2, 2009, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan celebrated International Children’s Day yesterday.
According to the UNICEF CO in Tajikistan, speaking on this occasion, Ms. Hongwei Gao, UNICEF Country Representative in Tajikistan said: “UNICEF joins the whole country not only in celebrating Children’s Day but also in calling attention to the importance of ensuring children’s rights to survival and development, quality education, care and protection. Despite some progress achieved during the recent years, Tajikistan continues to face serious challenges when it comes to children’s health, education and social protection.”
Tajikistan has the region’s highest infant mortality rate of 56 per 1,000 births. With an estimated 200,000 births annually, this means that every year about 11,200 children die before their first birthday. Many of these deaths are from preventable causes. It should, therefore, be a top priority for the country to save these young lives.
Roughly one quarter of girls in the country do not attend school after grade nine. As a result, more and more children are being born to mothers who have not completed basic education. Moreover, more than 90 per cent of children do not have access to pre-school. This limits children’s chances to succeed and develop at school.
Hongwei Gao added: “The global economic crisis is confronting thousands of families across the country with greater hardships, hitting children and women worst. UNICEF calls for united efforts in ensuring that, in this difficult period, children are protected and given an opportunity to survive and develop to their full potential.”
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments
