Neglected BD children must be focused on govt work
Thursday, 12 January 2012
FE Report
The most vulnerable and neglected children of Bangladesh must be focused on the government's work, said the executive director of UNICEF Wednesday in the capital.
"Food security does not mean nutrition security. Children who don't receive enough of the right nutrients in the first 1,000 days of their lives suffer irreversible physical and cognitive harm that can in turn make it harder for them to learn in school and earn as adults," Anthony Lake, executive director of UNICEF said after concluding a three-day visit to Bangladesh.
He said that around the world, almost 180,000 million children are stunted - including 40 per cent of children in Bangladesh.
"Stunting is not only a tragedy for the child, but a tremendous drain on the development of a nation," he said after visiting a UNICEF-supported drop-in centre for the protection of children at risk in old Dhaka where homeless girls receive shelter and education.
"I was impressed with the girls I met, who told me their stories and ambitions for the rest of their lives. We often speak of the importance of protecting such children, seeing them only as victims to be pitied and in need of charity, but in fact they are among the strongest and most courageous children in the world, capable of overcoming the most tremendous obstacles," said the UNICEF executive director.
"They are not only victims, they are an inspiration," he added.
He said that Bangladesh has made very real progress on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
"To build on that progress, we have to focus new effort on reaching the most disadvantaged, weaving equity throughout all the efforts of the government, UNICEF and all of our partners," he added.
Lake also focused on the issue of children with disabilities, saying that, "If we are serious about equity, we should also be serious about the issue of disability."
The most vulnerable and neglected children of Bangladesh must be focused on the government's work, said the executive director of UNICEF Wednesday in the capital.
"Food security does not mean nutrition security. Children who don't receive enough of the right nutrients in the first 1,000 days of their lives suffer irreversible physical and cognitive harm that can in turn make it harder for them to learn in school and earn as adults," Anthony Lake, executive director of UNICEF said after concluding a three-day visit to Bangladesh.
He said that around the world, almost 180,000 million children are stunted - including 40 per cent of children in Bangladesh.
"Stunting is not only a tragedy for the child, but a tremendous drain on the development of a nation," he said after visiting a UNICEF-supported drop-in centre for the protection of children at risk in old Dhaka where homeless girls receive shelter and education.
"I was impressed with the girls I met, who told me their stories and ambitions for the rest of their lives. We often speak of the importance of protecting such children, seeing them only as victims to be pitied and in need of charity, but in fact they are among the strongest and most courageous children in the world, capable of overcoming the most tremendous obstacles," said the UNICEF executive director.
"They are not only victims, they are an inspiration," he added.
He said that Bangladesh has made very real progress on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
"To build on that progress, we have to focus new effort on reaching the most disadvantaged, weaving equity throughout all the efforts of the government, UNICEF and all of our partners," he added.
Lake also focused on the issue of children with disabilities, saying that, "If we are serious about equity, we should also be serious about the issue of disability."