Home
Overview
Children's issues
Our work
Partners
Media centre
Support UNICEF
Children's corner

Media centre

Press releases

Press releases

Press releases archive

Press releases archive

Photo essay

Photo essay

UNICEF in Emergencies

UNICEF in Emergencies

Media Invitation

Media Invitation

Audio/Video resources

Audio/Video resources

Resources

Resources

Publications

Publications

Newsletter

Newsletter

Reports

Reports

£75 million boost for India’s children

NEW YORK 13 March 2006 - International Development Minister, Gareth Thomas, today announced £75 million ($130 million) in funding for an expanded DFID and UNICEF Strategic Partnership for India, to accelerate progress to the Millennium Development Goals.

The new partnership will support UNICEF’s work in India focusing on some of the poorest states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, to improve delivery of primary healthcare and education. The partnership will complement the national and state governments’ increased commitment to transforming the lives of children with a focus on reaching the most socially excluded.
“The funding will give a significant boost to health and education programmes for the most vulnerable and socially excluded Indian children."

At a public signing in UNICEF House with UNICEF deputy executive director Toshiyuki Niwa, Gareth Thomas said: “The funding will give a significant boost to health and education programmes for the most vulnerable and socially excluded Indian children."

“It will bring vital support to people who need it the most, and help lay down long term foundations to improve the quality of people’s lives today and over the next generation.

“Building on a key partnership with UNICEF, and as a complement to the UN reform process, this will help turn Government commitment into action on the ground. It will help us in our shared aim to reduce poverty by 2015 through the Millennium Development Goals.”

It will also give further opportunity for UN agencies to enhance co-ordination, efficiency and effectiveness at the country level by expanding common services, reducing collective costs and increasing knowledge sharing.

“This funding provides the means to form an even stronger partnership between UNICEF, the government of India and DFID to create breakthrough interventions to tackle malnutrition, child survival, education and HIV/AIDs,” said Mr. Niwa of UNICEF.
With more than 1000 children under 5 years old dying every day due to diarrhoeal disease water and sanitation is a major concern.
For example, UNICEF will accelerate interventions such as the Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) that aims to vastly improve child survival rates in India. Through a programme of home visits by trained professionals from the moment of birth, IMNCI will ensure babies are being given proper care and any problems are both identified and treated. Proven methods to reduce infant death rates include families being taught to keep babies "sweet" by exclusive breastfeeding, "dry" not giving baths and "warm" using the kangaroo method of holding babies directly against the mother or father.

With more than 1000 children under 5 years old dying every day due to diarrhoeal disease water and sanitation is a major concern. The Indian Government’s Total Sanitation Campaign, aims to give every family access to water, toilets and handwashing facilities. UNICEF with partners has pioneered low cost toilets that are simple, affordable and appropriate and Rural Sanitary Markets as local access points for these services. Support from DFID will help expand this initiative.

Since the early 1990s India has lifted 12 million people out of poverty every year, and since 1999 DFID has spent £1.13 billion towards assistance. But with a sixth of the world population and increasing economic success, the nature of DFID’s relationship and the assistance it provides is changing in a way to reflect India’s standing as a self-reliant international player.

The announcement follows on from the successful Asia 2015 conference held in London last week (6-7 March) which brought together political leaders, private sector, senior officials, NGO representatives and academics from across Asia and focused on showcasing regional successes, sharing lessons and looking to the future.

Español Français

Search:

Email this article

Printer friendly

About UNICEF India
Careers at UNICEF
Legal
UNICEF global site