Monday, October 16, 2006 Unicef director tours Mindanao By Grace L. Plata
EDUCATED, impressed and inspired. That's how Unicef Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacfic Anupama Rao Singh described her feelings in her visit to Mindanao.
Rao Singh visited North Cotabato to inspect Unicef/Ausaid projects in the area. She will be checking ongoing projects all over Mindanao.
Rao Singh said, in a press conference at the Marco Polo Sunday, that she was Educated -- on the real issues affecting children in Mindanao, Impressed -- by the effort and commitment of the people who work to give assistance to these children and Inspired -- by what the children are doing to help themselves amidst the struggles in their young lives.
Unicef Country Representative Dr. Nicholas Alipui, who accompanied Rao Singh around for the inspection said Unicef's goal is to lessen glaring disparities on the human development experience. They concentrate on areas who really needed the project to make sure that no child is excluded from the right to basic services. Alipui also said the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) is one of these areas of priority.
Infant mortality rate in Armm is higher than those of the rest of the country. According to Alipui, there are 95-98 infant deaths per 1,000 infants born in the Armm area. A lot higher compared to 26 infant deaths per 1000 babies born in areas such as Davao City.
Rao Singh, accompanied by Alipui, Area Focal Office Forough Foyouzat and City Planning and Development Officer Mario Luis Jacinto, also visited the Davao Medical Center-Women and Children Protection Unit and three home-based Early Childhood Care and Development Centers (ECCD) in Barangay 23-C that receives aid from Unicef and run by City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO).
Alipui said although their projects are thriving and developing smoothly especially in the Armm areas, all their efforts might be in vain. The insurgency issues affecting Mindanao poises a threat to the effectivity and long-term goals of these programs. A blow that may prove destructive for our children.
