Sindh, UNICEF to launch child protection programme

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Unicef Country Representative Abdullah A Fadil in their meeting at the CM House have agreed to launch a Child Protection Programme to strengthen evidence-based policy and legislation.

The meeting was attended by Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Secretary School Education Zahid Abbasi, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh, Health Secretary Rehan Baloch, Secretary Social Welfare Sajid Jama Abro, and PD Zubair Channa.

The Unicef delegation members included Chief Field Officer Prem Chand, Executive Officer Ms Xene, health specialist Dr Kamal and others.

The CM and the Unicef country chief after a thorough discussion agreed that Unicef would help in creating an environment to strengthen evidence-based policy and legislation under child labour survey, child protection policy, birth registration by-laws, child protection against online abuse and exploitation, prevention strategies to reduce child protection violations and harmful traditional practices.

The key points of the programme for child protection included, prevention of child marriage, parenting packages for positive parent-child interaction, child online protection- ethical and safe use of cyber technology, strengthening of community-based protection structures, service strengthening to deliver equity-based gender-responsive services for children and adolescents, case management and referral system including certified proficiency in information system management (CPMIS), capacity strengthening of the child protection workforce and community-based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).

The CM was informed that Unicef would support strengthening the health system for inclusive, resilient, equitable, and gender-responsiveness within the framework of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The Unicef would also support improving Maternal and Neonatal Child Health (MNCH) services for equitable access and utilisation.

The meeting agreed that Unicef would support the health department for the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) for better immunisation services for full immunisation of all children.

The chief minister and the Unicef country chief agreed to launch a strong nutrition-responsive system in the health department to ensure optimal nutrition for mothers and children, improved nutrition for children, functional multisectoral coordination for Early Childhood Development (ECD) and nutrition.

Unicef committed $300,000 for a responsive system for which the CM directed the health department to fulfill the requirements so that funds could be channelised.

The chief minister said that the eradication of polio was his top priority. He added that his government, with the support of Unicef and other partners, has controlled polio.

Murad said that the health department was working for better integration of EPI and expanded delivery of additional services to priority communities, as well as cultivating opportunities for increased community engagement. Supporting Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) with technical and human support for polio eradication

The chief minister was told that Unicef was working with the school education department on certain initiatives such as the out-of-school children initiative with a focus on social mobilisation and institutional strengthening and scale-up of the professional development of teachers.

The chief minister and the Unicef representative discussed the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programme.

It may be noted that Unicef provides technical support to the provincial government on climate-resilient infrastructure through urban and rural water supply and sanitation structures along with community mobilisation for the sustainability of services. Moreover, Unicef also provides technical support to the government in improving monitoring, information management, climate resilience, and environmental degradation.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2024.