Countries in Focus
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Mozambique
Poverty is widespread in Mozambique. Food insecurity and the AIDS crisis plague the country and the economy remains largely dependant on foreign aid. Currently, about 40 per cent of children under five years of age are stunted because of chronic malnutrition and less than 40 per cent of the population has access to basic health care services because of a shortage of medical personnel.
With 16.2 per cent of 15 to 49 year olds infected with HIV, AIDS is the single greatest threat to development in Mozambique. Already the virus has lowered life expectancy in Mozambique from 41 in 1999 to 37 in 2006. AIDS is responsible for more than 20 per cent of an estimated 1.6 million orphaned children.
Ninety babies are infected with HIV every day through mother-to-child transmission. UNICEF has worked extensively with the Government of Mozambique to establish Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission clinics and train health care workers in the areas of counselling, safe delivery methods, infant feeding, nutrition, antiretroviral therapy and child care.
UNICEF is also increasing access to care, especially for children. Based on the highly successful Maputo Paediatric Day Hospital, UNICEF will help establish new paediatric day hospitals or wards as well as home-based community care in rural areas.
On Air: Young Broadcaster gets the Message Out
Read MoreWhile studying at University, Dulce Massunda, 22, volunteered as an announcer on Radio Mozambique’s national Child-to-Child radio programme in the capital of Maputo.
Supported by UNICEF, the programme deals with what matters most to youth – sex, AIDS and hip music. It broadcasts once a week to 8,000 listeners throughout the country and involves over 200 young radio journalists between the ages of 10 and 14.
Dulce, who became a household name in Mozambique during her time as a broadcaster, has been involved in many youth-oriented educational activities - such as workshops and peer education initiatives on HIV prevention.
Support from Mother to Mother
Read MoreRegina named her son Musamera, which means “appreciate him but don’t take him away” in Ndau, a local language in Mozambique.
She tested HIV-positive while pregnant, and has put every effort into Musamera’s survival. Regina has also helped other HIV-positive women as head of the Positive Mothers’ Group, a support and information-sharing group within the government-run Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission programme.
Under the programme, an HIV-positive pregnant woman - like Regina - is given a dose of the antiretroviral drug Nevirapine during labour; her baby receives the drug within 72 hours of birth.
UNICEF supports prevention programmes across Mozambique including the development of national service delivery policy.
Photo exhibition in Mozambique shows impact of AIDS through the eyes of children
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