Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

The United Nations Children's Fund has issued recommendations on the reduction of infant mortality and child poverty in Georgia.

In this regard, UNICEF Representative in Georgia Sascha Graumann and Labor, Health and Social Affairs Minister David Sergeyenko held a briefing on Wednesday.

Graumann referred to such simple measures as mandatory fortification of flour to reduce anemia among pregnant women and providing mothers and children aged between 6 and 24 with vitamins and microelements that will allow Georgia to save 300 children each year.

Furthermore, the retraining of neonatologists across the country is also important because 72 percent of child deaths are registered during the first week after birth. These activities are among those recommendations that UNICEF is considering together with the Health Ministry of Georgia in order to increase the number of saved children.

"UNICEF welcomes the efforts of the Ministry of Health aimed at solving the problems of socially unprotected children," Graumann said. "We call on the government to invest in younger child development programs, including those related to healthcare, preschool education, child poverty reduction and improvement of the child care system. This will influence not only the health of younger children and their well-being, but also ensure economic growth in the medium and long term, contributing to population growth."

According to UNICEF, 77 000 children live in the state of extreme poverty in Georgia, including 26 000 under the age of six. In terms of mortality among children, Georgia is ranked second in Europe.

UNICEF has worked in Georgia since 1993. The new program of cooperation with the government of Georgia focuses on the following areas: Early Childhood Care and Development, Child Protection, Advocacy and Social Monitoring of Children's Rights. The main partners of UNICEF include central and local governments, UN agencies and international organizations, donors as well as NGOs and media. The main purposes of the organization in Georgia include increasing access to maternal and child health and nutrition services; improvement of protection for the most vulnerable children and young people from violence, abuse and exploitation; strengthening partnerships and monitoring systems at all levels to develop and implement evidence-based pro-poor social policies.