I subscribed to three newsletters as part
of last week’s blog task but out of the three the one that I am most interested
in looking into further is the UNICEF organization. There are many focuses in
this month’s newsletter and the main stories include: Community Health Workers
(life- saving services for children and families around the world), UNICEF's
flagship report (children living with a disability in 2013), Help health
workers reach mums in the crucial first 28 days, Kilimanjaro Climb for kids in
2014 and Child Rights Animation Released. I chose UNICEF and took a closer look
at Australia as I explained in last week’s blog. I like that UNICEF is an
international website and that information from other countries in readily
available and easy to access through their website. A specific issue that is
addressed that stands out to me because it offers a different perspective from
that of us here in North America is the salute to Community Health Care Workers.
The newsletter explains that in the most remote parts of the world, community
health workers are often the only support a new mother has in the lead-up to
the birth of her baby, and in the challenging weeks after the birth. It is often
these health workers that aid a mother in learning to breastfeed and in monitoring
a baby's health. The article explains that volunteer nurses, community outreach
workers, and mobile health workers are often unsung heroes who volunteer their
time to teach breastfeeding practices, provide immunizations, make home visits
to remote area and teach best nutrition practices to new mothers and their
children (UNICEF, 2014).
Here is a
link to this week’s newsletter and this story in particular:
UNICEF
explains that “their vision is a world where the basic rights of every child
will be met. UNICEF works to support child health and nutrition, clean water
and sanitation, quality education for all boys and girls and the protection of
children from violence, exploitation and HIV” (UNICEF, 2014).
In this
month’s newsletter there is a link for a very informative media presentation
called “Rights with Ruby and Jack”. I think that this is a great tool for
children and early childhood workers alike to spread awareness and
understanding about the rights of every child and the responsibilities we have
so that all children around the world can live happy and healthy lives.
Finally, this week’s newsletter had an
article called “Mass polio vaccinations begin amid instability of Syrian
conflict”. I didn’t even realize that polio had again become an issue not only
in Syria but in countries all over the Middle East. The article explains that have
begun a multi-country vaccination campaign in seven countries across the Middle
East in the hope of reaching more than 22 million children multiple times over six
months (UNICEF, 2014).
References:
UNICEF
Australia, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org.au/
1 comments:
I really enjoyed reading your comments on the help and support that new mothers receive. My mom had eight children, four boys and four girls. She has been there for every one of her grand-children's birth and has stayed to help for 2-4 weeks. She was there for all her daughters and for all her daughter-in-laws. She came whenever she was needed and stayed as long as she was welcome. She helped care for the new mom, for the baby, and for any older children the family had. She was the nurse, and the teacher, and the taxi cab driver, and anything else that was needed. She cooked and cleaned and cared for the household so mom could relax and bond with baby. While my first child was born naturally, I adopted by second child, but my mom was there for that too, and helped with the transitions of bringing this new baby into our home. It is sad that there are so many new mothers who do not receive that same type of care. I could appreciate the value that was mentioned in the article and how great that was as a tradition and culture in that society.
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