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UNICEF sees gains made in education, health and children's rights

© UNICEF Afghanistan/2004/Zaidi
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Karin Sham Poo talks to a young school girl at Shamsapoor Girls School in the east of Afghanistan.

Wednesday, 24 March was a day all about new opportunities for the children of eastern Afghanistan as UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Karin Sham Poo paid a one day visit to the province of Nangarhar.

Ms. Sham Poo officially inaugurated Shamsapoor Girls School, constructed through a partnership between the Afghan Ministry of Education, UNICEF and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The school can now cater for 400 girls, with new classrooms and water and sanitation facilities.

Ms. Sham Poo reminded students and teachers of the enormous progress that was being made in girls’ education across Afghanistan.

“Three years ago, the sight that I am witnessing today would have been impossible,” said Ms. Sham Poo. “This congregation of girls, eager and enthusiastic to learn, would have been just a dream. The progress that you have made in such a short space of time is evidence of the great passion for education that is shared by the people of Afghanistan.”

The UNICEF Deputy Executive Director also reminded the school’s young students of the importance placed upon their education. “Use your education well. Study hard. Learn from your elders and your teachers. Respect your faith, yourself and those around you. Take the opportunity that you have given today, and put it to good use for the years to come,” she added.

Investing in health

Earlier in the day, Sham Poo focused on opportunities for improved health, opening Afghanistan’s fifth salt iodization plant in Jalalabad. The plant, a joint project between the Government and private salt producers, with financial support from UNICEF, is capable of producing up to 5 metric tons of iodised salt every hour, and will serve a population of 2.4 million people.

This is important to the people of Afghanistan as iodine deficiency is a serious problem, resulting in physical stunting, goitre and mental retardation.

Opening the plant alongside Governor of Nangarhar His Excellency Haji Din Mohammad, Karin Sham Poo addressed assembled guests.

“We talk a lot about the investments being made in education, the investments being made in health and hygiene programmes, the investment in national capacity and the rebuilding of infrastructure in every sector,” said Ms. Sham Poo. “But, ladies and gentlemen, none of those investments will really bear fruit if we do not address the basic developmental needs of Afghanistan; and that includes the elimination of iodine deficiency disorders.”

Afghanistan’s religious leaders commit to children’s rights

Ms. Sham Poo ended her visit to eastern Afghanistan by joining a workshop of religious leaders, who had gathered to develop strategies for promoting children’s rights in the region. Addressing 52 imams from four provinces, Sham Poo congratulated the religious community for its efforts in promoting issues such as girls’ education, women’s health care and the protection of children from abuse and exploitation.

“Throughout history, the leaders of Islam have held a unique position as communicators of wisdom, compassion, devotion and good counsel. Your decision to work together on behalf of the women and children of Afghanistan underlines the tremendous force for good that you represent,” she said.

Religious leaders are seen as being vital advocates for children and women’s rights in Afghanistan, and today’s workshop concluded with a declaration by the religious leaders that committed themselves to raising awareness of safe motherhood, promoting birth registration and advocating for education for all girls and boys.

The closing declaration of the workshop committed participants to providing awareness on safe motherhood, birth registration, education for girls and boys and the prevention of child labour, child trafficking and the use of children in armed groups.

Raising awareness in communities

Afghanistan is a traditional Islamic country where religious scholars and clergy play an important role in the day-to-day life of its citizens. In most communities, especially those in rural parts of the country, imams and mullahs are seen as both spiritual and religious leaders and also a trusted source of guidance and advice on issues of the day.

Imams regularly promote girls’ enrolment, national immunization days and other health campaigns through Friday worship across Afghanistan, while in areas of the country with limited school and medical facilities mosques have been used to provide classrooms and immunization centres.

In today’s workshop participants identified six key areas around which they will now work to assist other religious leaders at district and village level to advocate on children’s and women’s rights.

These areas included:

providing information on risks in pregnancy and childbirth
raising awareness of the importance of adequate medical care for expectant mothers
promoting the birth registration of children
advocating for immunization of children against disease
encouraging the practice of birth-spacing to reduce potential risks to mothers and their children
identifying ways of increasing educational opportunities for boys and girls, and
awareness raising on protection issues such as child labour and trafficking

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