UNICEF hands over Situation Analysis document to Guyana
Guyana is currently armed with information that will give it a better understanding of the issues that children and women are faced with thereby making it poised to put intervening measures in place.
This notion was amplified Wednesday when the United Nations Children Fund Representative, Ms Marianne Flach ceremoniously handed over a Situation Analysis (SitAn) of Children and Women document to the Ministry of Social Protection. The analysis is perhaps one of the most significant tasks undertaken and completed by the UNICEF Representative during her tenure which will shortly come to an end. Speaking at a forum convened at the Peter Rose and Anira Streets, Queenstown, Georgetown Herdmanston Lodge, Flach said, “Today is bittersweet for me as this is one of my last official functions before I conclude my tour of duty here in Guyana.” Even as she expressed satisfaction with the completion and handing over of the analysis, Flach commended the Ministry of Social Protection for its excellent partnership throughout the ‘SitAn’ process. “This Situation Analysis gives us a better understanding of the issues that children are facing in all 10 Regions of Guyana right now, so that we can ensure that we plan and budget effectively to make their lives better,” said Flach. She explained that the analysis will be extremely important in informing the UNICEF Guyana Country Programme during the course of 2017-2021. The Country Programme has three priority areas: Safety and justice, Life-long learning and Social inclusion and child rights monitoring.
Over the next five years, Flach said that UNICEF will continue its partnership with Government to support National Strategic Plans and Programmes, with emphasis on equity, and on reaching the most vulnerable children and their families. Based on data gathered during the most recent round of Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2014, the SitAn highlights different groups of vulnerable children and women, and has helped place emphasis on critical areas within the local Country Programme, according to Flach. Flach also disclosed yesterday that “Climate Change is also mainstreamed in our new country programme, with emphasis on Climate Change Education, and addressing issues such as the availability of clean water, and mitigating health risks, especially those posed by infectious vector borne diseases such as Dengue.
(Kaieteurnews.com)