In New Delhi, at several of the 7,000 vaccination booths that span the Indian capital, children get two drops of an oral polio vaccine, after which one of their pinkie fingers is painted with indelible purple ink — a procedure that is being repeated across the vast country, which aims to reach more than 170 million children under five on regular National Immunization Days. The next few years will decide whether the program — which has staved off new cases of the virus for a year — ends in success or failure.
UNICEF fights child marriage in India
Tea estate communities in Assam, in northeastern India, are working with the UN Children’s Fund to deter the early marriage and sexual abuse of children. Girls sometimes begin picking tea leaves as early as 10 years old in the isolated communities, where UNICEF has joined with girls’ groups and the regional Indian Tea Association to reverse gender discrimination.
Venezuela strikes chord with poor children
A 35-year-old social program in Venezuela aimed at alleviating the effects of poverty among children through classical music is inspiring similar programs in other countries, in part through the high profile of one of its products, Gustavo Dudamel, music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. El Sistema reaches 310,000 children through 500 orchestras and other ensembles, and aims to instill a sense of community, commitment and self-worth amid lives that are otherwise marked by desperation.
Bangladesh is phoning it in on health care
In Bangladesh, where some 85 million people, or nearly 60% of the population, use cellphones, the government is providing free medical advice through 24-hour hotlines staffed by health workers. Authorities also are using text messages to remind pregnant women about pre- and postnatal care.
American scout takes to trail in malaria fight
Thousands of American Boy Scouts, Webelos and Cub Scouts have helped Nothing But Nets raise nearly $40 million to send more than 6 million mosquito nets to some two dozen countries Africa. But few have done more than Nate Stafford, who hiked 100 miles to raise $10,000 for the insecticide-treated bed nets.
NIGERIA: Calls for more action on child lead poisoning
The Nigerian government has stood back and watched while hundreds of children in the northwestern state of Zamfara have died of lead poisoning, and hundreds more been affected by it over the past two years, say rights groups and the local authorities. At least 400 children who had worked in artisanal gold mines were reported to have in 2010, and still the government has taken little action to curb the mining or make communities more aware of its dangers.