UNICEF and Children's Welfare Essay examples

Vaccines are one of most successful and cost effective public health preventive tool in current century for preventing communicable diseases. According to UK Health Protection Agency (HPA), vaccination is the second most effective public health intervention worldwide. Immunization protects the individual as well the community from serious diseases. Since the implementation of immunization there has been a 95% reduction in the cases 4. According to WHO immunization prevented 2million deaths worldwide.

Many infectious diseases that once quickly spread and easily killed have been controlled or eradicated due to vaccinations. The efficacy of vaccines in reducing morbidity and mortality, particularly in children, is undeniable. Per the World Health Organization, childhood vaccinations prevent approximately 2-3 million deaths per year worldwide (WHO, 2016). In the United States, the value of immunizations is clearly displayed by comparing pre-vaccine era morbidity/mortality rates to post-vaccine era in regards to vaccine-preventable diseases. For example, prior to the diphtheria vaccine in the 1920’s, 206,000 people annually contracted the disease resulting in 15,520 deaths (History of Vaccines, 2009). However, between 2004 and 2014, only

Despite significant progress in the fight against preventable disease, millions still die needlessly each year. According to UNICEF, originally known as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, a vaccine preventable disease is responsible for 2 million fatal infections worldwide each year. About 75% of these deaths occur in children under five years of age. (N) In more vivid terms, UNICEF notes that vaccine-preventable diseases kill a child every 20 seconds. (D) Due to high rates of childhood vaccination, the United States has experienced a dramatic reduction in such deaths. A comparison of the years 1950 and 2010 clearly illustrates the benefits of vaccinations. During this 60-year period, deaths from diphtheria reduced from 410 to 0, tetanus from 336 to 3, pertussis from 1,118 to 26, and polio from 1,904 to 0. Measles deaths dropped from 468 in 1950 to 0 in 2008, the last year a United States death rate was recorded. It’s not surprising that vaccinations have been touted as one of the top ten health achievements of the 20th century by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

* Collaborating with government and international agencies to reduce mortality and expand measles elimination goals on a global level. ("Vaccines and

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is an international organization present in 190 countries (Unicef, n.d.). It is an agency focused on the area of maternal and child health. Recently, the organization is providing fresh water and food for mothers and children, education for mothers and girls, and immunization programs for children (Unicef, n.d.). The advantages for this program are the benefits to the education and health of the women and children, but the disadvantages are ability to retrieve funds all the time, and providing care to everyone. They have to have a focused topic, like they do, in order to start to care for the population. There are many issues in the third world countries that go beyond the abilities of one organization,

“In 2011 alone, 1.5 million children died [worldwide] from diseases preventable by currently recommended vaccines” (“Immunization” 2). The magnitude of this tragedy is in part caused by the fact that some of those children simply weren’t reached by organizations like UNICEF, which aim to vaccinate children (“Immunization” 2). However, there are other reasons for the recent deaths and epidemics—such as the whooping cough epidemic of 2012, with 48,000 cases nationally in the United States—involving vaccine preventable diseases (McClay 1).

Despite the achievements created by UNICEF in closing its mandate, it still faces a variety of challenges, plenty of that are external, and a few of that are internal in nature. These have caused a lag in operations and

A large problem of childhood poverty is malnutrition. Since these children are growing up in poverty, many of the parents have a hard time supplying food for their kids. Surprisingly, there

Childhood immunisation is one of the most effective ways to keep children healthy. The human body can build a resistance to a disease without actually catching it, this is done by introducing a small dose of the vaccine into the body. As of 2010 80.2 percent of 2 year olds have been immunised. In my opinion I think this is crazy that this is not all 2 year olds. Just think of that 19.8 percent of toddlers that are at great risk of getting a potentially deadly disease, simply because you, as a parent, said no to get them vaccinated.

CDC, UNICEF, WHO, UNF and American Red Cross have formed a partnership to prevent measles-related deaths around the globe. Their objective involves but not limited to the elimination of measles, implementation of high numbers of vaccination and surveillance of outbreaks. Measles Initiative have raised money to supply around two billion shots and increased the vaccination rate to eighty-five percent worldwide which led to a decrease in mortality rates by seventy-nine percent (“About the Initiative”). Also, the GAVI Alliance works together with M&R Initiative to provide funding for developing countries` vaccination programs (“Global Measles and Rubella”, 2012, p. 35).

Ragan & Duffy (2012, p.23) have also shown high immunization rates have resulted in a substantial decline in vaccine preventable diseases, particularly vaccination has eliminated smallpox worldwide. In addition, in a study by Bawah, Phillips, Adjuik & smith et al (2010, p.95) found that vaccination has resulted in a large and statistically significant reduction child mortality. The risk of dying for children younger than five who are fully immunized is reduced by more than 70% compared with those who are not immunized or partially immunized. Moreover, research by Dawson (2011, p.1032) also suggests that vaccination is a vital intervention in reducing illness and death rates in children and he estimated approximately 2.5 million deaths could be prevented each year by vaccination. In addition to personal immunity Vaccination programs also bring herd immunity which ensures even greater protection for the community from communicable diseases. The level of vaccination required to provide herd immunity varies with virulence and transmissibility as well as vaccine efficacy. While vaccinating

My research shows show there is still a risk of vaccines such as allergies, autism, multiple sclerosis and possibly SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Therefore the natural way for our children’s immune system to be strong is let them expose to germs. Once their body is immune to the disease it will recognize and destroy it. Newborns, babies and toddlers may have some protection from their mother however it is only for a short period of time. Some parents are opposed to giving their child vaccination because partly of religious belief, philosophical or personal moral or it could due to financial reason. In the third world country they do not have government-funded public immunization programs therefore most children are not vaccinated.

Immunizations and vaccines play a big role in keeping the population stable. Vaccinations have led to a reduction of about two thirds of death in children (Child Survival Revolution Para 9). The parents that are not giving their children the right vaccinations or the countries that have not yet been provided with an affordable immune system are contributing to not having a stable population. An issue of compassion and humanity has arisen because of child mortality, but reducing child mortality will help stabilize world population ( Child Survival Revolution Para 7). Compassion is the key to everyone's heart now the government should find some in their heart and provide these countries with the immunization system they need to save their kids'

UNICEF is a leading humanitarian and development agency that works all over the world mainly for the rights of children, but also those of women too. They are a united nations program that primarily provides assistance to children and women in developing countries all over the world. Starting with safe shelter, nutrition, protection from disasters, prenatal care, clean water, healthcare, sanitation and education. For almost 70 years they have worked to help better the lives of children and their families. UNICEF is active in over 190 countries and they work to overcome the obstacles placed in a child’s life like poverty, disease, violence, and discrimination all to give them the best start in life. Children and families that have been affected by HIV or AIDS can also receive help from UNICEF as well as education to help prevent the spread of the disease.

UNICEF responds in emergencies to protect the rights of children. In coordination with United Nations partners and humanitarian agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for rapid response available to its partners to relieve the suffering of children and those who provide their care.