Sherab Lhamo
Till date more than 98 percent of Bhutanese children have been immunised against preventable childhood disease and nearly 40 percent of pre-school children attend Early Childhood Care and Development centres.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of UNICEF in Bhutan yesterday, officials highlighted key achievements, including the success in becoming open defecation free and establishing nationwide coverage of women and child protection desks.
The Representative of UNICEF Bhutan, Andrea James, said that united by a vision to realise the rights of all children, the government of Bhutan and UNICEF came together to change the stories of children in Bhutan. “Together, we invested in health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation, and child protection to give every child in Bhutan the best start in life.”
Bhutan and UNICEF’s partnership first began in 1974 with the Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene Programme in Trashigang and Tsirang. UNICEF’s country office was established on March 17, 1994 with the signing of the Basic Cooperation Agreement between the government and UNICEF.
In 1990, Bhutan ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and in 2011, the Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA) was enacted to further protect children’s rights. This act remains a cornerstone of the nation’s efforts to safeguard its youngest citizens.
UNICEF invested USD 13.2 million from 1992 to 1996 in a programme focused on safe motherhood and family planning. This initiative involved training healthcare professionals and primary school teachers, improving water and sanitation infrastructure in communities and schools, and mobilising monks to serve as health educators, particularly in rural areas.
Andrea James said that for a healthy, educated, and resilient workforce, it is crucial to address the challenges that hinder the development of children and young people. This includes the growing mental health crisis, lack of digital skills among children, young people, and parents led by factors such as unemployment, gender-based violence, and limited access to mental health services.
She also highlighted the high rates of micronutrient deficiency among adolescent girls and women and high neonatal mortality rate with newborn deaths accounting for 55 percent of under-five deaths. “As daunting as these challenges are, we believe that the best predictor of future success is past performance,” she said.
The Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MoFAET) minister, D N Dhungyel, said that in the 1970s, as Bhutan began its modernisation journey, UNICEF was among the first international partners to assist the eradication of smallpox and control of other communicable diseases. “UNICEF’s life-saving interventions, such as robust immunisation programmes, have laid the groundwork for a healthier Bhutan, and their efforts in expanding education to remote areas and promoting early childhood development have significantly contributed to our nation’s progress.”
UNICEF presented a plaque of commendation to the Royal Government in recognition of 50 years of outstanding achievements, prioritising the wellbeing and rights of children and young people.