ISLAMABAD (February 10 2009): Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) in collaboration with UNICEF and Royal Netherlands Embassy (RNE) launched "Drinking Water Quality Improvement and Hygiene Promotion Project" at the cost of US $5.64 million in earthquake affected districts.

ISLAMABAD (January 29 2009): The government of Japan will provide US $4.7 million to United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) for eradication of polio in Pakistan. These funds would be used to procure 26 million doses of oral polio vaccine during 2009 that constitutes seven percent of the total requirement.

Aarti Dhar

NEW DELHI: Neonatal deaths contribute to 50 per cent under five deaths, despite India having cut its under five mortality rate from 117 to 72 between 1990 and 2007.

Ranjani Rajendra & Madhavi Rajadhyaksha I TNN

Mumbai: Alarmed at the poor health of women and children in Maharashtra, chief minister Ashok Chavan on Thursday announced the setting up of a task force to improve their condition.
Chavan made the announcement at the release of UNICEF

Jan. 15: The maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Uttar Pradesh is comparable to that of Sudan and the state, along with eight others, contributes to two-thirds of maternal deaths that occur in India. This has been revealed in the Unicef

Karthik Madhavan

KRISHNAGIRI: Contamination of piped drinking water is 71 per cent, according to a study conducted jointly by the IIT Chennai and Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Porur.Dr. Ligy Philip, Associate Professsor, and Dr. Indumathy, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Chennai, led the study team.

THE final five kilometres to Ramnagar (Khokla), as the village is officially called, in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh has to be done on foot down a hill thick with shrubs and bushes. As we enter the village, eager eyes scan us for food or some other kind of livelihood support only to droop in disappointment once they learn that the wait has been in vain.

Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation leads millions of our people to various health problems. Water and vector born diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, worm infestation and polio, malaria, hepatitis A and E are too common in the country. These diseases are specially very dangerous for the children under five.