Measles killed more than 140,000 amid stagnating vaccine rates

WASHINGTON—More than 140,000 people died from measles worldwide in 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) and US authorities said Thursday, the result of global vaccination rates that have stagnated for almost a decade.

Poorer countries were hardest hit, with the vast majority of measles cases and deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Wealthier countries however have also been battling their own outbreaks, with 4 European nations losing their "eliminated" status in 2018.

The announcement came as the Pacific island nation of Samoa was locked down in order to carry out a mass vaccination drive to cope with an epidemic that has killed 62 and, according to UN officials, was fuelled by anti-vaxxer conspiracy theories on the internet.

"The fact that any child dies from a vaccine-preventable disease like measles is frankly an outrage and a collective failure to protect the world's most vulnerable children," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus, director-general of the World Health Organization.

"To save lives, we must ensure everyone can benefit from vaccines, which means investing in immunization and quality health care as a right for all."

Most of the deaths occurred among children under the age of 5. Babies and infants are at greatest risk of infection and of developing complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling that can lead to permanent damage, blindness or hearing loss.

About 142,300 people lost their lives to the disease in 2018—a quarter of the number of deaths in 2000, but up 15 percent compared to 2017. There were 9.7 million total cases.

The WHO and UNICEF estimated that 86 percent of children globally received the first dose of measles vaccine in 2018, but fewer than 70 percent received the second recommended dose.

That is far short of the recommended 95 percent vaccination coverage, with 2 doses of measles vaccine deemed necessary to protect populations from the disease.

The 5 worst affected countries, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Liberia, Madagascar, Somalia and Ukraine, accounted for half of all cases worldwide.

But the United States also saw its highest number of cases in 25 years, narrowly avoiding losing its status of having eliminated the disease. The status is lost if an outbreak is sustained continuously for more than a year.

Albania, the Czech Republic, Greece and the United Kingdom meanwhile all lost their eliminated status.

The rise comes as a growing anti-vaccine movement gains steam around the world, driven by fraudulent claims linking the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella to a risk of autism in children.

A recent study meanwhile showed that contracting the measles virus decimated the protective antibodies responsible for remembering previous encounters with disease: effectively wiping the host's immunity memory.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Health workers aim to save lives of mothers and babies with smartphone data

LONDON - Community health workers in India and Uganda are to be armed with smartphones and tablets that use data analytics, risk maps and social media trends help to save the lives of mothers and their babies.

The $100 million project, backed by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank and others, will be extended to 10 countries in all and aims to prevent the premature deaths of 6 million women and children by 2030.

The plan is to give frontline health workers inexpensive data analytic tools to help them gather the intelligence they need to focus on communities and families most at risk, said Raj Shah, president of the philanthropic Rockefeller Foundation that is co-leading the project.

This will include creating real-time risk maps to help health workers be more effective at reaching mothers and children in need, and analyzing non-health data such as climate patterns or social media trends to predict and prepare in advance for local disease outbreaks or health emergencies.

"A few years ago, these community health workers had no real technology - they were usually flying blind," Shah told Reuters.

"Today the vast majority of them have smartphones with data and software technologies literally in their hands - and with those, we can help them do their work better."

UN figures published last week showed that while more women and newborns survive now than ever before, a baby or a pregnant woman still dies every 11 seconds somewhere in the world.

Levels of maternal deaths are nearly 50 times higher for women in sub-Saharan Africa than in wealthy countries, and their babies are 10 times more likely to die in their first month of life, the report found.

UNICEF's executive director Henrietta Fore said that by adopting a precision approach - using granular knowledge of which people and families are most at risk due to poverty, medical history, or gaps in vaccinations for example - should help health teams "make life-saving decisions and prevent epidemics before they happen".

“Timely, reliable and disaggregated data, underpinned by a commitment to universal health coverage, can ensure that vulnerable women, children and young people get the care they need at the right place and the right time," she said. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

2 million children out of school in war-torn Yemen: UN

SANAA, Yemen - Two million children are out of school in war-torn Yemen, a fourth of whom have dropped out since the conflict escalated in March 2015, the United Nations children's agency said Wednesday.

The education of a further 3.7 million children is at risk as teachers' salaries have not been paid in more than two years, UNICEF said in a statement.

"Violence, displacement and attacks on schools are preventing many children from accessing school," said Sara Beysolow Nyanti, UNICEF representative in Yemen.

One in five schools in the country can no longer be used as a direct result of the conflict that has devastated Yemen's already fragile education system, the UN agency says.

"Children out of school face increased risks of all forms of exploitation including being forced to join the fighting, child labor and early marriage," Nyanti said.

"They lose the opportunity to develop and grow in a caring and stimulating environment, ultimately becoming trapped in a life of poverty and hardship."

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed since Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in March 2015 in support of the beleaguered government after the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels captured the capital Sanaa.

The fighting has displaced millions and left 24.1 million -- more than two-thirds of the population -- in need of aid.

According to UNICEF, 1.8 million children under the age of five are suffering from severe malnutrition.

The United Nations has described Yemen as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Last-minute Christmas shopping? Consider gifts that will last for years

Former US President George H.W. Bush passed away in November but he made the headlines anew just three weeks after he was buried when a charity disclosed that he secretly sponsored a Filipino child for 10 years!

Bush not only gave $38 monthly towards Compassion International’s program, he also wrote letters to Timothy and even sent gifts to encourage the boy’s love for drawing.

If you haven’t finished with your Christmas shopping, why not take inspiration from Bush and consider giving gifts that make meaningful and lasting impact?

Consider these gift ideas that keep on giving, and you could be spreading holiday joy for your family and friends and people who need help year round.

#1 The Gift of Noche Buena

Online food service company Honestbee recently launched Bee Giving, Bee Kind, allowing its customers to order food baskets that will be delivered to Childhope Philippines. The food baskets range in cost from P375 to P500, and you can order as many baskets as you want and schedule the delivery to the designated charity.

Childhope Philippines in turn will pass on these food baskets to the families and street children under their care, for their Noche Buena feast, or Christmas meals, or even for Media Noche come New Year’s Eve.

To get started, log on to www.honestbee.ph and create an account which will take less than two minutes. You can give generously from the comforts of your home or office, and so conveniently too.

#2 The Gift of Hope

Childhope Philippines champions the cause of children who work and live on the streets. They are present in 15 areas in 6 cities of Metro Manila, and reaches out to 1,000 to 1,200 street children every year. You can support their projects with a one-time donation, or you can sign up for a recurring contribution.

With just P200, you can sponsor one street education session. You can also give P250 for one child to get basic school supplies, or P500 which will allow Childhope Philippines to provide basic medicine and vitamins for one month to a child and monitor his or her health.

If you can commit to monthly donations, your P800 to P2,000 can ensure that one child will be able to attend formal school, as it will cover their monthly allowance. You can choose to sponsor children in the elementary level or youth attending high school or college. Point your browser to www.childhope.org.ph for more information including bank details where you can deposit your donation.

#3 The Gift of Health

With over 60 years of providing assistance to Filipino children, the United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF is a familiar institution to most donors. They implement a wide range of programs from education to disaster risk reduction, and commits to spend 75% of every donation received directly for its beneficiaries.

You can also choose to donate once or monthly to support various programs including one focused on providing Oral Rehydration Salts, or ORS to save children suffering from acute diarrhea. In remote and poor areas where families have little or no access to safe drinking water, the ORS packet can spell the difference between life and death for a child suffering from diarrheal dehydration.

A one-time gift of P400 can provide 16 children suffering from severe diarrhea with ORS treatment in combination with zinc supplements. Zinc supplements prevent the recurrence of diarrhea in the next 2-3 months after the first episode.

Or if you feel you can do more, please consider a one-time contribution of Php800 or more which can help provide a shallow well and water pump for one community so that residents can have access to safe, drinking water. Visit www.unicef.org/philippines for more information on the many ways you and your donation can help.

#4 The Gift of Light

In this age of modern day conveniences, it’s hard to imagine families with no access to electricity, let alone light at night. This would mean parents cannot work or do chores around the house, the kids cannot study, the list simply goes on.

If you want to figuratively and literally bring light to Filipino families with limited or no access to electricity, you can contact Liter of Light or Isang Litrong Liwanag, and support them in their mission to provide affordable and sustainable solar light. Their first lighting solutions, introduced to Typhoon Haiyan survivors, were plastic bottles filled with water and bleach which illuminates when hit by the sun. Soon after, they found ways to bring solar panels to communities to extend their lighting solutions to street lights and lamps.

They also welcome volunteers to teach marginalized communities how to use recycled plastic bottles and locally sourced materials to illuminate not just their homes, but also businesses, and streets. Go to www.literoflight.org for more information.

#5 The Gift of One Hour

Did you know that you can gift one hour of your annual salary towards helping various projects on education, health & nutrition, and child welfare & development for Filipino children in need?

With Children’s Hour, you can sign up to donate at least one hour of your earnings once a year and no amount is too small. With P50, you can help strengthen a child’s participation in class with one nutritious meal. With P100, you can give a child the right and access to having a name through a birth certificate. For over 20 years, this charity has been committed to making sure your one hour’s pay can make a real difference.

* * *

One of the best things about living in the Philippines is the many ways you can extend a helping hand. No matter your budget or even lack of one, you can still help as volunteers are welcome by most charities in nearly all of our 7,100 islands. Big or small, there’s a difference only you can make, and this holiday season is as good as any time to start.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Hacked emails put Beckham’s Typhoon Yolanda charity work in spotlight: report

Football celebrity David Beckham allegedly told the UNICEF through one of his staff that he shouldn't be shouldering the expenses connected to charity work benefiting the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in 2013, according to hacked emails reported by British media.

"I totally agree to be honest there's no way it should be costing me anything," Beckham allegedly said in one of the conversations about a trip he made to Tacloban, Leyte, in 2014, as reported by the Mirror on Monday.

A UNICEF statement defended Beckham, saying he had given "significant personal funds" to the charity.

Beckham was hit by a media onslaught on Monday after a series of hacked emails made public raised questions over his charity work.

A staple of British gossip and style columns, Beckham, 41, came under attack from newspapers after emails he allegedly sent were disclosed by the website "Football Leaks". A spokeswoman for Beckham said the emails had been taken out of context and doctored.

Among them was his foul-mouthed reaction when he found out he was not going to be knighted and his reluctance to donate his own money to a charity project.

The leaks fly in the face of his "man of the people" public image.

Known by the nickname "Golden Balls", the east-London born midfielder shot to fame with Manchester United thanks to his expert free-kick taking and crossing ability. He won six Premier League titles and one Champions League, when Manchester United won the "treble" in 1999.

He is the third most-capped England international, and has global appeal having played for Spain's Real Madrid and U.S. team L.A. Galaxy. He became as famous off the pitch as he was on it, marrying "Posh Spice" singer Victoria Adams in 1999.

Beckham told the BBC in a special radio appearance last month that he stayed with Victoria for love rather than to protect "brand Beckham".

However, the leaked emails portray a star who carefully maintained his image and who was tetchy when he did not get his way. His spokeswoman said the emails were misleading.

"This story is based on outdated material taken out of context from hacked and doctored private emails from a third party server and gives a deliberately inaccurate picture," she said in a statement.

Reuters was not able to verify the source of the emails independently.

Many tabloid newspapers that had helped to propel his fame were unrelenting in their criticism of him on Monday.

The Daily Mail dedicated four pages to the "shame of Saint Becks," and the affair has been dubbed "Beckileaks" in the British media, although the Daily Mirror said that Beckham had been a victim of a "blackmail plot to shame footie hero".

Much of the outrage has centred around Beckham's work with the UNICEF children's charity. The leaked emails suggested that Beckham had billed it for a flight which he didn't need to take, and was reluctant to contribute his own money to the charity.

UNICEF said it could not comment on the emails, but defended Beckham's contribution.

"As well as generously giving his time, energy and support to help raise awareness and funds for UNICEF's work for children, David has given significant funds personally," it said in a statement.

— With reports from Reuters' Alistair Smout

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Old Trafford gives Mourinho raucous welcome

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom -- Jose Mourinho enjoyed a raucous reception as he watched a charity match from the stands on Sunday in his first appearance at Old Trafford since being named Manchester United manager.

Just nine days after the official confirmation of Mourinho's appointment, the 53-year-old was in Manchester to give his support to Unicef, who use the Soccer Aid friendly to raise money for children in danger across the world.

The former Chelsea boss originally agreed to manage an "England" team consisting of former internationals, musicians, actors and other celebrities, against a Rest of the World team coached by Leicester's Claudio Ranieri and featuring a host of retired legends.

But, following his move to United, Mourinho decided to save his first game on the home bench for the club's clash with Everton in Wayne Rooney's testimonial on August 3.

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce took care of the match-day management duties instead, while Mourinho watched from the directors box as England won 3-2.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be more involved tonight, but I'm so happy and involved at the beginning of my job at Manchester United that all the time I have right now is working time," Mourinho wrote in the match programme.

"But I love the boys at Soccer Aid so much -- the atmosphere and especially the cause -- that I couldn't be away on the day of the game."

Plenty of fans were waiting outside Old Trafford to greet Mourinho when he got off the England team bus and some in the stands held aloft signs and banners bearing his name.

Mourinho, hired to replace Louis van Gaal on a three-year deal, was given a loud reception from supporters, some of whom snapped up scarfs emblazoned with the new United manager's name and face, and it didn't take long for the Portuguese to make himself at home.

- New house -

Pele was Unicef's guest of honour and Mourinho posted a photo on his Instagram account of him and the Brazil legend as they shook hands in front of a Manchester United badge in the players' tunnel.

The caption to Mourinho's photo read: "An honour to host Pele at my new house" and he also posted a picture of himself standing in the tunnel looking towards the pitch.

Mourinho gave an interview to ITV before kick-off, but his microphone broke before he could get into full flow.

"I'm very happy to be here, and especially alongside Ranieri, who won the Premier League, and Sam, who saved Sunderland from relegation," Mourinho said.

"It's a shame I've really not had a chance to enjoy this season as much as they did."

Sunderland forward Jermain Defoe scored twice for an England side including Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher, as well as pop star Robbie Williams and One Direction's Louis Tomlinson.

Ronaldinho, Cafu, Jaap Stam and Edgar Davids starred for the Rest of the World, whose goals were scored by former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov.

Mourinho will take charge of his first game as United boss when they face Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on July 22.

With his charity commitments out of the way, Mourinho has to focus on a less pleasant distraction as the employment tribunal brought by former Chelsea first-team doctor Eva Carneiro begins on Monday.

Carneiro is claiming constructive dismissal against Chelsea and Mourinho could be called as a witness.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Google teams with UNICEF to map Zika virus spread

SAN FRANCISCO - Google on Thursday said that it is working with UNICEF to map the spread of Zika and pitching in a million dollars to support the group's efforts on the ground.

A volunteer team of Google engineers, designers and data scientists is helping UNICEF build a computer platform to analyze data from sources such as weather and travel patterns to predict potential outbreaks, the director of the Internet giant's charitable arm said in a blog post.

"Ultimately, the goal of this open source platform is to identify the risk of Zika transmission for different regions and help UNICEF, governments and NGO's decide how and where to focus their time and resources," said Google.org director Jacquelline Fuller.

"This set of tools is being prototyped for the Zika response, but will also be applicable to future emergencies."

The million-dollar grant to UNICEF was intended to go toward cutting mosquito populations; developing diagnostics and vaccines; awareness, and prevention, according to Fuller.

Google also launched a campaign to match employee donations, with a goal of providing an additional $500,000 for UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization efforts to fight Zika.

Google ramped the amount of Zika-related health information, and the number of languages in which they are provided, at its search engine and backed YouTube videos aimed at raising awareness, Fuller said.

The rapidly spreading Zika virus, which has affected more than 20 Latin American countries, is suspected to be the cause of a sudden increase in cases of neonatal microcephaly, a severe deformation of the brain and skull among newborns.

Brazil has been hardest hit.

Countries throughout the region have launched operations to eliminate pools of stagnant water where the mosquitoes, which also spread dengue and chikungunya viruses, can breed.

Cuba has detected the first case of Zika in a Venezuelan doctor who came to the island for postgraduate studies, the health ministry said Wednesday.

The 28-year-old woman, who arrived in Cuba on February 21, is hospitalized at the Pedro Kouri Tropical Medicine Institute in the capital Havana.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Aww, young fan receives a gift from Lionel Messi

Dreams do come true, especially now with the power of the Internet.

That is what this five-year-old Afghan boy proved after his photo, wearing a plastic Lionel Messi jersey went viral.

Now, he gets the real thing and it is signed by his football hero himself.

Murtaza Ahmadi even received a ball from Messi, who is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Murtaza's father said his boy had asked for a shirt like Messi's but because they could not afford it he settled on just wearing a makeshift jersey.

On its website, the Afghanistan Football Federation said that it is now arranging a meeting between Murtaza and Messi.

-Mornings @ ANC, February 26, 2016

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Anne Curtis is new UNICEF celebrity advocate

TACLOBAN CITY -- Actress and TV host Anne Curtis is UNICEF's newly appointed celebrity advocate for children.

Curtis spent two days visiting parts of Leyte, where she saw the recovery operations in areas hit by Typhoon Yolanda. She also spent time interacting with children and their families.

"I am honored to join UNICEF on this very fulfilling and meaningful trip. I am deeply touched by how children and families have coped and are building back their lives. Clearly, significant progress have been achieved. Talking to children and their families, and being able to bring smiles to their faces is something I will remember for the rest of my life," she said.

As a donor and supporter of UNICEF, Curtis said she is glad to see that the funds have reached and worked for children who are in need.

While in Leyte, Curtis supported emergency response and visited a maternal health care ward in the regional hospital, an immunization site, a child friendly space at a temporary housing site, and educational facilities such as day care centers and elementary schools.

In every site she visited, the "It's Showtime" host took the time to talk with children and families.

"I played with children in a child-friendly space and a day care center. I read books to them and helped them draw in an arts and crafts session. I washed hands with school children and participated in their song and dance number," she shared.

"It was heartwarming to listen to mothers, children and young people. It is important that people know these stories, understand how communities are recovering and what we can do to help."

As a UNICEF celebrity advocate for children, Curtis will focus on promoting Early Childhood Care & Development. She will also help in mobilizing support and resources for the most vulnerable children and families, those living in abject poverty, are affected by violence, abuse, exploitation, and particularly in emergency and conflict situations.

Curtis has been a supporter of UNICEF since 2009.

"We trust that with her popularity and large following, Anne will play a significant role in drawing due attention to issues affecting the most vulnerable, marginalized and underserved children," said UNICEF Philippines representative Lotta Sylwander.

In the Philippines, Curtis joins UNICEF national ambassador Gary Valenciano and UNICEF special advocate for children Daphne Paez in upholding UNICEF’s mandate to protect and promote the rights of children worldwide.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Shakira, Gerard Pique Launch Charity Baby Shower with Unicef

Shakira, whose first child is due this week, and her boyfriend -- FC Barcelona soccer star Gerard Piqué -- have joined UNICEF to host a virtual baby shower to benefit underprivileged babies.



The virtual shower invites both Shakira and Piqué fans to visit a virtual room where they can learn about infant survival and purchase an "inspirational gift" to help babies around the World. These "gifts" are actually real products that can save lives and will be distributed to the neediest children and communities via UNICEF Networks. Gift prices range from $5 for a mosquito net and $10 for a polio vaccine for 17 children to $37 for an infant scale. The most expensive gift, at $110, buys special food for malnourished children.

"Every couple that's expecting a baby shares our same dreams and hopes for their children," Shakira, who is a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, said. "However, many don't have the same opportunities we do to give them a happy childhood free of preventable and easily cured illnesses. Together we can change that."

Shakira and Piqué's virtual baby shower can be accessed at http://uni.cf/baby.

source:  billboard.com

Pneumonia tops killer diseases among children

MANILA, Philippines - If heart attack is the dreaded silent killer among adults, pneumonia can be considered its counterpart among children.

According to the World Health Organization, pneumonia is the leading cause of death among children worldwide.

Every year, around 150 million cases of pneumonia among children below 5 years old are recorded worldwide.

Pneumonia, a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs, causes almost 1 out 5 under-five deaths worldwide, according to UNICEF.

In its 2006 report, UNICEF found that pneumonia kills more children than any other disease—more than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined.

Among five-year-olds in the Philippines, 2 out of every 10 suffer from pneumonia.

One of them is Liezel Cernechez’s 9-months old grandson, Baby Chris, was suffering from cold cough for days. Cernechez suspected that her grandson has pneumonia but could not confirm this since lack of funds kept her from bringing him to the hospital.

“In the Philippines, it’s in the top 10 leading causes of mortality and morbidity of all age group,” said Dr. Anjanette De Leon, a Pediatric Pulmonologist.

With the help of the Journo team, Cernechez was able to bring Baby Chris to the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center. After examining him, the doctors confirmed that Baby Chris indeed has moderate distress Pneumonia.

Cernechez blamed herself for what happened to her grandson. She recalled using cold water when she bathed Baby Chris, and said this might be gthe reason he caught pneumonia.

But experts proved her hypothesis false.

“Kasi ang problema is hindi alam ng tao kung ano yung pneumonia. Hindi nila alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa batang may pneumonia, paano gagamutin at saka kung paano ito nakukuha… Edukasyon, kulang pa rin ng tamang kaalaman ng mga magulang at tsaka ng mga tao sa ating paligid,” said Dr. De Leon.

According to WHO, pneumonia is caused by a number of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Living in Payatas, Quezon City, Baby Chris could have gotten pneumonia from their environment.

“Minsan kasi ang pagkuha ng pneumonia ay droplet infection. So pag nasinghot ng isang bata ang mikrobyo, pwede ito pumunta sa ilong, pumunta sa daanan ng hangin at the same time, pumunta sa ating mga baga para apektuhan upang maging ganap na pneumonia ito,” explained Dr. De Leon.

Baby Chris, who was a premature baby, was an easy target of the respiratory disease. Deepening his vulnerability, he was breastfed for only three months.

“A healthy child has many natural defenses that protect its lungs from the invading pathogens that cause pneumonia. However, children and infants with compromised immune systems have weakened defenses. Undernourished children, particularly those not exclusively breastfed or with inadequate zinc intake, are at higher risk of developing pneumonia,” said the UNICEF report.

Discovered at the start of the century, pneumonia is now considered an old disease, especially in progressive countries where vaccines and antibiotics that fight pneumonia have been invented. But as a third-world country, the Philippines is still struggling to fight the killer disease.

“Ang pneumonia, gaya ng iba pang preventable diseases, ay sumasalamin lamang dun sa kung ano yung economic at social state nung isang community. Dahil ang mahirap na pamayanan ay ibig sabihin, hindi malusog na pamayanan… Ano yung nagiging salik kung bakit mas nagiging vulnerable sila? Yun nga yung kagutuman, kagutuman dahil sa kahirapan,” said Dr. Beng Reyes, Secretary-General of Health Alliance for Democracy.

Almost 5,000 Filipino children die of pneumonia every year. One of the reasons for these deaths, as experts point out, is the parents’ lack of knowledge about the disease.

“Halimbawa kasi sa edukasyon lang; kasi pag may simpleng ubo ka lang, simpleng lagnat, nagse-self-medicate ang marami sa mga caregivers natin o yung mga caretakers natin ng mga pasyente lalo na sa mga bata. Kung ano yung nabibili sa tindahan, kung ano yung pinapayo ng kapitbahay, yun ang ginagamot. At kapag nahihirapan nang huminga ang pasyente, malala na, saka palang dadalhin sa ospital,” Dr. Reyes said.

In 2009, WHO and UNICEF launched the Global Action Plan Against Pneumonia (GAPP), believing that “we can reduce child pneumonia deaths by two-thirds simply by scaling up existing interventions to prevent pneumonia infections, protect children from conditions that increase the risk of pneumonia and treat infections that do occur with life-saving antibiotics.”

The project aimed to save children from pneumonia-caused deaths through vaccines that prevent pneumonia or pneumonia-related illness, exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life, and antibiotics.

Of the three, breastfeeding is the easier solution in the case of the Philippines, where vaccines and antibiotics are not free.

“Noon kung nasa private clinic lang, o eh di yun lang ang may kayang makaka-afford. Pag ang DOH na ang nagbigay, eh di ibig sabihin libre. Ngayon ang mga tao na lang ngayon ang kailangang sabihan na wag silang magpawalang bahala na kung ang gobyerno natin ay mayroong sinasabing makakapagbigay sila ng bakunang ito, ay i-take advantage nila. At sa lahat ng pagkakataon na makakakuha sila ng bakuna ay gawin nila, di ba?” said Dr. Lulu Bravo, Professor in Pediatrics at the University of the Philippines-Manila College of Medicine.

But the Department of Health is expecting to receive free vaccines this year, for delivery to barangay health centers nationwide. This is part of the P3.7- billion fund of the Health department for infectious diseases, such as pneumonia. But Dr. Reyes believes that this would still be insufficient to address the problem.

“Sa ngayon kasi napakaliit na porsyento nung budget ng health ang nilaan for the promotion of health and prevention of diseases… mga programa na bagamat sinasabi ng gobyerno na ito daw ang magso-solve ng malaking problema natin, may mga immediate problems kagaya ng pneumonia na dapat pagbuhusan nila ng pinaka-immediate na pondo para sa mga mas effective na program,” said Dr. Reyes.

source: interaksyon.com

Unicef auctions off Manny Baldemor paintings

MANILA, Philippines - UNICEF Philippines and eBay Philippines launch their second online fundraising campaign through UNICEF Auction for Action: The Manny Baldemor Sabrosa Series until Dec. 11 at www.ebay.ph/unicef.

As one of the featured artists in the first UNICEF Auction for Action last May, UNICEF visual artist Manny Baldemor once again shares his generous talent for the benefit of UNICEF programs for children in the Philippines and worldwide.

“I have received so many blessings that it’s only right to share and give back. Children’s welfare has always been close to my heart and that’s why I work with UNICEF Philippines because they help children in the poorest and most disadvantaged areas,” shares Baldemor.

The Sabrosa series was conceived during Baldemor’s art residency in Sabrosa, Portugal earlier this year. Located in the northern part of Portugal, the municipality of Sabrosa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also the birthplace of Ferdinand Magellan, the first European navigator who reached Philippine shores in 1521.

The series of landscapes was inspired when Baldemor took a boat ride down the great river Duoro, “I took a glance upwards as we passed a steep incline and saw vineyards of different levels that would make our own famous Rice Terraces look like anthills. It was awesome. I’ve never seen layers and layers of vines in a gigantic mountain that almost touches the sky… I wondered if the vineyards were already there 500 years ago when Ferdinand Magellan trekked from this mountain of vines, down to the River Duoro to the Atlantic and finally to the Pacific Ocean,” he says.

UNICEF Country Representative Vanessa Tobin shares, “UNICEF thanks Manny Baldemor for being a staunch supporter having lent his iconic designs to UNICEF cards and products and holding exhibitions of paintings for the benefit of our programs for children. Proceeds from the online auction of the Sabrosa series will go towards our work for street children programs.”

Auction for Action: The Manny Baldemor Sabrosa Series on www.ebay.ph/unicef is live and will run for seven days until Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. Watch out for this exclusive auction and help make a difference for children.

UNICEF is on the ground in over 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.

In the Philippines for over 60 years, UNICEF works through partners to reach disadvantaged children and communities to ensure children are healthy, educated and protected from harm. UNICEF is quick to respond in emergencies to ensure affected communities are reached and provided with services from local governments and other service providers.

source: philstar.com