Ref. :  000014747
Date :  2004-10-18
Language :  English
Home Page / The whole website
fr / es / de / po / en

Religious and traditional leaders from across Africa rally for child survival

Pan-African Forum Promotes Role of Local Community in Child Health

Author :  UNICEF


Religious and traditional leaders and senior media representatives from across the continent are gathering here this week to explore how their unique influence in hard-to-reach communities can boost immunization rates and support child survival efforts in Africa, where two-thirds of child deaths are entirely preventable.

"No one can doubt that the survival of children in Africa is in peril," said President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal in his opening address to the forum. "We are gathered here to join forces in the fight to keep these children alive and healthy. We are here to help battle poverty, inadequate health infrastructure, and insufficient resources."

Immunization and child survival rates across Africa have faltered in the past decade, according to UNICEF country data released last week in the Progress for Children report. Of the nearly 11 million children who die each year under the age of five, 42 per cent are in sub-Saharan Africa.

"We have paid insufficient attention to the community of religious and traditional leaders whose influence in the family and community can ensure that children not only survive, but thrive," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. "We believe that without the engagement of people with direct and immediate community influence, even the best health programmes will not reach all the children who need them. The active participation of religious and traditional groups is crucial to the success of any child survival effort."

Bellamy noted that while many communities lack schools, health facilities or sanitation, few are without places of worship. For many people, religious institutions are an important, readily available source of information and advice on many matters, including health.

"Religious and traditional leaders have enormous potential to build trust and ensure that children receive life-saving health care, but it remains largely untapped," said Religions for Peace Secretary-General Dr. William Vendley. "This meeting offers a unique opportunity to harness that potential by renewing commitments, strengthening inter-religious cooperation, and promoting partnerships. These important African leaders have a huge role in protecting children."

Delegates to the Pan-African Forum on Building Trust for Immunization and Child Survival also include leading figures from the continent's most influential media, who are an equally strong ally in promoting public trust in immunization.

UNICEF and Religions for Peace believe that the media should help people make informed decisions, and that they have an irreplaceable role to play in creating demand for live-saving health care for children.

"The way in which the media represents, misrepresents, or even ignores children's issues can influence decisions taken on behalf of children," said Bellamy. "The media have a growing influence on how society regards children, and how we treat children. So they have a responsibility to promote facts and attitudes that will save lives."

Over 200 delegates will share their diverse experiences on immunization and child survival - from the perspective of Muslim communities, Christian communities, and traditional communities. They will hear presentations on immunization trends and polio eradication by UNICEF and WHO health experts and take part in discussing subjects such as HIV/AIDS.

Interfaith, peace, and media consultative working groups will also be conducted, leading toward a joint Call to Action promoting a grass-roots partnership in immunization and child survival.

Background

The Pan African Forum on Building Trust for Immunization and Child Survival, co-sponsored by UNICEF and the World Conference for Religion and Peace, will be attended by more than 200 religious and traditional leaders and senior media representatives from across Africa.

A representative from the Commission of the African Union; David L. Heymann, WHO Director-General for Polio Eradication; Rima Salah, UNICEF Regional Director for West & Central Africa; and Per Engebak, UNICEF Regional Director for East & Southern Africa will also be among those taking part.


Continents : 
- Africa   

Rate this content
 
 
 
Average of 146 ratings 
Rating 2.47 / 4 MoyenMoyenMoyenMoyen
Same author:
 fleche3 in 5 babies not breastfed in the first hour of life

 flecheA global initiative on out-of-school children
 flecheFrom Syria to Libya: Stalked by war
 flecheSept années de guerre en Syrie et aucune amélioration en vue : les enfants handicapés menacés d’exclusion
 fleche5 ways you can help end violence against girls
 flecheLevels and Trends in Child Mortality, Report 2017
 flecheLevels and Trends in Child Mortality
 flecheThe State of the World’s Children 2016: A fair chance for every child
 flecheFive-fold increase in number of refugee and migrant children traveling alone since 2010
 flecheThirsting for a future : water and children in a changing climate
 flecheEnding child marriage. Progress and prospects
 flecheUNICEF 2016 Report - Uprooted: The growing crisis for refugee and migrant children
 flecheUNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children 2016
 flecheL’UNICEF lance un appel humanitaire de 2,8 milliards de dollars pour les enfants
 flecheOne in four children in conflict zones are out of school
 flecheMore than 16 million babies born into conflict this year: UNICEF
 flecheChild brides in Africa could more than double to 310 million by 2050 - UNICEF
 flecheL'impact du changement climatique sur les enfants
 flecheConflict drives 13 million children out of school in the Middle East and North Africa
 flecheMillions of children in Syria at high risk of disease amid water scarcity and summer heat
 flecheRéimaginer l’avenir
 fleche14 million children impacted by conflict in Syria and Iraq
 flecheMore brutal and intense conflicts leave children increasingly at risk of recruitment
 flecheAdolescents twice as likely to be out of school as children of primary school age, say UNESCO and UNICEF
 flecheConflict in Ukraine leaves almost 150 schools closed
 flecheWith 15 million children caught up in major conflicts, UNICEF declares 2014 a devastating year for children
 flecheA Malian refugee girl in Niger chooses school over marriage
 flecheInnovations in peacebuilding: How technology is changing the way we see the world and respond to violent conflict
 flecheUNICEF, UNFPA stand behind Africa’s biggest anti child marriage push
 flecheAlmost 3 million newborns could be saved each year – UNICEF
 flecheEvery child counts
 flecheBreaking down the data: new snapshots of water and sanitation in Asia Pacific
 flecheOne in three children under-five do not officially exist
 flecheChildren With Disabilities
 flecheOn Universal Children’s Day, put hidden violence and abuse in the spotlight, says UNICEF
 flecheInternational Day of the Girl Child
 flecheHelping youth associated with gangs create a better future for themselves – and their communities
 flecheAdditional US$45 million contribution to Syria’s children, as EU becomes largest donor to UNICEF appeal
 flecheMillennium Development Goals a major focus, at United Nations General Assembly
 flecheMillennium Development Goal drinking water target met
 flecheUNICEF launches flagship report focusing on urban children
 flecheUNICEF: Investing in adolescents can break cycles of poverty and inequity
 flecheNew UNICEF study shows MDGs for children can be reached faster with focus on most disadvantaged
 fleche"The State of the World’s Children report 2009" - Special issue
 flecheUNICEF’s State of The World’s Children report commemorates 20 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
 flecheUNICEF ‘Progress for Children’ report advances child-protection goals
 flecheGlobal child mortality continues to drop
 fleche2009 Humanitarian Action Report focuses on conflict, climate and hunger
 flecheReleasing declining numbers for child mortality, UNICEF calls for increased efforts to save children’s lives
 flecheWorld Water Week 2008 focuses on sanitation, health and hygiene
 flecheIndia and China hold the key to world meeting MDGs, says UNICEF flagship report
 flecheWorld Breastfeeding Week: supporting mothers to breastfeed will improve children’s chances of survival, says UNICEF
 flecheFar too few using improved sanitation but more people use drinking-water from safe sources
 flecheLa gente celebra el día internacional de la lengua materna en América Latina y el Caribe
 flecheHumanitarian Action Report 2008
 flecheUNICEF issues annual appeal to meet needs of children and women in global emergencies
 flecheUN launches International Year of Sanitation to address global crisis
 flecheVeneman, Ann M.
 flecheReport on the State of the World’s Children 2007 : "Women and Children. The Double dividend of gender equality"
 flecheEmpower women to help children
 flecheUNICEF zum Welt-AIDS-Tag: AIDS-Gefahr vor unserer Haustür wächst
 flechePrevention efforts too little, too late; prosecution of traffickers not sole solution
 flecheThe State of the World's Children 2006: Excluded and Invisible
 flecheChildren: The Missing Face of AIDS
 flecheUNICEF to launch global campaign on children and AIDS
 flecheFood crisis in Malawi compounded by HIV/AIDS
 flecheNew global partnership calls for immediate action to help women and children Survive
 flecheWomen, Water and Hygiene Are Key to Change in Africa
 flecheSeven million children to be vaccinated as Aghanistan strives to eradicate polio
 flecheJapan announces US$ 5.16 million to improve children’s health
 flecheFood and vaccines saving children’s lives
 flecheFamine in Niger threatens 800,000 children
 flecheThe state of the World's children
 flecheUNICEF-supported projects open girls’ eyes to gender equality
 flecheEncuentro Iberoamericano sobre Derechos de la Niñez y Adolescencia Indígena
 flecheEncuentro Iberoamericano sobre Derechos de la Niñez y Adolescencia Indígena
 flecheScotland: UNICEF’s first-ever C8 Children’s Forum brings together young advocates from around the world
 flecheEl Foro de la Infancia C8: "Es hora de que la pobreza infantil pase a la historia"
 flecheUNICEF-Kinderkonferenz zum G-8-Gipfel in Schottland
 flecheOn the Day of the African Child: Africa’s chronic emergencies struggling for attention
 flecheChildren must be at the heart of development efforts
 flecheDes centaines de milliers de personnes manquent d'eau
 flecheRegional consultation in Buenos Aires on violence against children
 flecheUNICEF calls for action on Congo terror
 flecheUNICEF identifies key steps to save children of "Tsunami Generation"
 flecheBellamy, Carol
 flecheUNICEF calls for aid to tsunami-struck countries
 flecheConflict in eastern DR Congo has forced millions to flee homes
 flecheTodesursache: Mädchen
 flecheThe State of the World's Children 2005: childhood under threat
 flecheEastern Europe & Central Asia: Millions of children bypassed by economic progress
 flecheWorld facing silent emergency as billions struggle without clean water and basic sanitation
 flecheAfrica's Orphan Crisis: Worst Is Yet to Come
 flecheMaternal deaths disproportionately high in developing countries
 flecheUNICEF Chief urges UN General Assembly to focus on young people in deliberations on HIV/AIDS
 flecheChild abuse leads to 3,500 annual deaths in developed nations
 flecheSchools open again, but where are the children?
 flecheLa Directrice de l'UNICEF exhorte les dirigeants politiques a investir en faveur des enfants, qui détiennent les clés du développement mondial et de la stabilité
13
SEARCH
Keywords   go
in 
Translate this page Traduire par Google Translate
Share

Share on Facebook
FACEBOOK
Partager sur Twitter
TWITTER
Share on Google+Google + Share on LinkedInLinkedIn
Partager sur MessengerMessenger Partager sur BloggerBlogger
Other items
where is published this article: