UNICEF goals in maternal and child health.

Abstract

MOST OF THE CHILDREN of the world face a short life, a sick life, and a hungry life. Of the estimated one billion children in the world about 750 million live in economically underdeveloped areas. About 80 per cent of these children live in countries where the income per person averages less than $100 a year. This, of course, is quite an old situation. But these days there is something new about it. What is new is that the fatalistic attitudes in these countries toward poverty and disease are giving wvay to new hopes and efforts. The stirrings for change, aided by a growing international conscience and awareness of the need to share materials and experience, has led for the first time to the possibility that more of the children of the world can join the present fortunate ones in a chance for life, health, productivity, and happiness. In the field of health, war and postwar discoveries of miracle drugs and chemicals enable a great deal to be done by simply trained auxiliary personnel working under the direction of the limited number of fully trained doctors and other health personnel. To help countries achieve their new strivings the United Nations has created several agencies in the economic and social fields, including UNICEF the United Nations Children's Fund. 'UNICEF, which was established by the General Assembly as an agency concerned with children, provides aid primarily in the fields of health, nutrition, and welfare. Over the course of the years a network of cooperative relationships have developed between UNICEF and the World Health Organization, and also the Food and Agriculture Organization-relationships both of a formal and of an intimate character-to assure that the available international resources are aligned in the most effective ways possible in helping government projects. UNICEF provides supplies and technical equipment not available within the assisted countries, and also material help for the training of national personnel. WHO and FAO provide technical advice required by the governments in planning and carrying out the projects. They also provide technical advice to UNICEF. The thirty-nation UNICEF Executive Board which sets the assistance policies of the fund, also approves aid for each project; in the health field this aid is not voted by the UNICEF Board unless the plan for the project has received the technical approval of WHO. In addition to technical reliance on WHO, in connection with country programs which both agencies are jointly aiding, UNICEF has a deep appreciation of the broader activities and leadership of WHO in the health field since these provide the foundation without which much of the work of UNICEF would not be possible. This week one of the committees of the United Nations General Assembly currently in session-the Third or Social Committee-is including in its debate the activities of UNICEF. Among the 82 nations represented there-often divided in their views on other mattersthere is a warm and unanimous approval of this type of international collaboration. This approbation is typical of an almost universal attitude which has de-