Latin America and the Caribbean

Kingston, Jamaica, 7 May 2024 – Belize, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are the latest countries in the Americas to receive certification from the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating the mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis (EMTCT). The milestone was marked today at a commemorative event organized by the Pan…

New York and Bagsværd, 20 September 2023 - Novo Nordisk and UNICEF today announced an extension of their long-term partnership to help prevent global childhood overweight and obesity — a public health crisis that affects millions of children worldwide. Over the next three years Novo Nordisk will commit 8 million US dollars to scale and accelerate…

PANAMA CITY, 31 August 2023 - A new UNICEF report shows that, in Latin America and the Caribbean, overweight affects more than 4 million children under 5 years of age and almost 50 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years. The report “Childhood overweight on the rise. Is it too late to turn the tide in Latin America and the Caribbean?”…

Children living with overweight or obesity are more likely to continue to have these conditions in adulthood, and to have non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure and some types of cancer), as well as a shorter life expectancy.   UNICEF calls on all sectors and key actors to make it possible for…, Chapter 1. Overweight in children and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean, 1.1 Nutritional status in children under 5 years of age 1.2 Overweight in children and adolescents from 5 to 19 years of age 1.3 Urbanization and overweight in the region 1.4 Challenges for the approach of actions to prevent childhood overweight in Latin America and the Caribbean Download the report, Chapter 2. UNICEF’s response and contribution to the prevention of childhood overweight in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2.1 UNICEF response framework for the prevention of childhood overweight 2.2 UNICEF’s contribution to the prevention of childhood overweight Download the report, Conclusions and recommendations, Download the report, Understanding the problem, One of the main determinants of childhood overweight is obesogenic food environments, which promote the consumption of unhealthy and ultra-processed products (high in sugar, fat and salt), and limit physical activity.  These environments abound in the region, especially in urban areas, where more than 81% of the population lives (making it the…, UNICEF's response and contribution, The prevention of childhood overweight is a collective task that requires joint actions with governments, civil society organizations, academia, the private sector, as well as other United Nations agencies.  Graphic on UNICEF’s systems approach to nutritious, safe, affordable and sustainable food for children and adolescents. UNICEF’s systems…, 2023 Report Childhood overweighton the riseIs it too late to turn the tide in Latin America and the Caribbean? Naranja Superio r 2023 Report Childhood overweight on the riseIs it too late to turn the tide in Latin America and the Caribbean? Overall guidance and supervision: Maaike Arts, Regional Advisor, Survive & Thrive. Technical…

Nurse preparing a vaccine UNICEF/U.S. CDC/UNI408803/Hiller Whenever Dynnhyfer de Souza helps to protect the health of a child, it has a profound impact on her. “I get emotional when people line up to be vaccinated by me,” says the nursing technician who lives in the Brazilian city of Baturité, Ceará. “They say I have a light hand, which is very…, On average, across different routine vaccines, Brazil is bouncing back and recovering, The situation in Brazil reflects some of the trends that we’re seeing globally when it comes to making sure that children are protected from potentially deadly diseases with the routine immunizations they need to live healthy lives.   New data from UNICEF and WHO reveals that after the largest sustained decline in routine immunization in a…, Reaching children in the city that’s the gateway to the Amazon rainforest, The latest global data reveals that during 2022 there were some positive trends, including a 2.5 million reduction in the number of zero-dose children worldwide. A zero-dose child is one that has not received a single dose of a diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine. But the reality is that about one in five children are still zero-dose or under-…, Hard-to-reach riverside communities in Abaetetuba are getting access to essential health care services, The Active Vaccination Search initiative has also been operating in the municipality of Abaetetuba, in northern Brazil, which is formed by 72 islands.  La iniciativa Búsqueda Activa Vacunal también se ha desarrollado en el municipio de Abaetetuba, en el norte de Brasil. UN0846719 - ES, The team is carrying out a 16-day mission serving the medical and vaccination needs of people living in riverine communities., UNICEF/U.S. CDC/ UN0846719/Hiller Abaetetuba está formada por 72 islas y es uno de los cuatro municipios donde UNICEF Brasil está desarrollando el programa piloto. UN0846706, The region is made up of 72 islands and is among the four municipalities UNICEF Brazil is carrying out the pilot programme., UNICEF/U.S. CDC/UN0846706/Hiller Para ofrecer atención sanitaria a la población ribereña de Abaetetuba, el municipio cuenta con una Unidad Básica de Salud Fluvial que visita cada comunidad. Rosimary Bailão da Costa, técnica en enfermería, revisa un paquete de jeringuillas a bordo de la Unidad Básica de Salud Fluvial. UN0846672 - ES, To provide healthcare to the riverside populations in Abaetetuba, the municipality has a Basic River Health Unit, which visits each community. Nursing Technician Rosimary Bailão da Costa inspects a sleeve of syringes onboard the Basic River Health Unit., UNICEF/U.S. CDC/UN0846672/Hiller Los miembros de la comunidad pueden vacunarse y tienen acceso a médicos, dentistas y personal de enfermería cada dos meses, cuando reciben la visita de los trabajadores sanitarios de la Unidad Básica de Salud Fluvial. UN0846708, Community members receive vaccines and have access to doctors, dentists, and nurses every two months, when the Basic River Health Unit health workers visit., UNICEF/U.S. CDC/ UN0846708/Hiller Una parte importante del proyecto consiste en localizar a los niños y niñas menores de cinco años que no están al día con el calendario de vacunación o que nunca se han vacunado. En la foto, la agente de salud comunitaria Dene Maria Rodrigues André (segunda fila, derecha) acompaña a la familia Pinheiro desde su…, Through this project, a significant amount of focus is placed on locating children under 5 years of age who are either behind on their vaccination schedule or are zero-dose. Here, Community Health Agent Dene Maria Rodrigues André (second row, right) accompanies the Pinheiro family from their home to the Basic River Health Unit barge for…, UNICEF/U.S. CDC/ UN0846680/Hiller Deisiane Pinheiro, de ocho años, se vacuna en la embarcación de la Unidad Básica de Salud Fluvial que atiende a la comunidad del río Caripetuba, en Abaetetuba. UN0846695, Deisiane Pinheiro, 8, receives a vaccine on the Basic River Health Unit barge in the community of Caripetuba River in Abaetetuba., UNICEF/U.S. CDC/UN0846695/Hiller La iniciativa Búsqueda Activa Vacunal también se ha desarrollado en el municipio de Abaetetuba, en el norte de Brasil. Abaetetuba está formada por 72 islas y es uno de los cuatro municipios donde UNICEF Brasil está desarrollando el programa piloto. Para ofrecer atención sanitaria a la población ribereña de…, Childhood immunization is starting to recover and this is what needs to happen next, A young girl looks down at her arm while receiving a vaccination. Rosinaldo, 6, is held by her mother, Ivana Rodrigues Cordeiro, while being vaccinated by Nursing Technician Rosimary Bailão da Costa during a vaccination clinic in the community of Caripetuba River in Abaetetuba, Pará state, Brazil. Immunization initiatives like the Active…

The State of the World’s Children 2023: For every child, vaccination examines what needs to happen to ensure that every child, everywhere is protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which set back progress in childhood immunization globally, it focuses on the role of poverty, marginalization and gender…

👉 Follow us on WhatsApp Channels: Recibe información por WhatsApp UNICEF Parenting Hub  to get daily tips. You may also be interested in: Home Parenting  | Food and nutrition Food and nutrition  | Early learning Early learning  | Nurturing care Nurturing care  | Health Health | Security and protection Security and protection  |  Short…, What is a meltdown? , Meltdowns can happen in both younger and older children. This is when a child is completely overtaken by emotion and becomes overwhelmed. These emotions could be fear, anger, frustration or something else.   , What does a meltdown look like in older children? , When children who have the capacity to describe what they're feeling become overwhelmed, they may start sobbing, hyperventilating or storming around. Older children are less likely to have meltdowns in public places because they themselves are embarrassed. Meltdowns are much more likely to happen at home. For example, a teen may hold it together…, What should I do if my teen has an emotional outburst? , Here are nine practical steps Dr. Damour recommends parents try out to help their teens manage a meltdown. Pause between each step to see if it’s worked. If not, move forward to the next step.  1. Listen without interrupting  Older children may have an emotional outburst that involves talking in a very distressed way about whatever is wrong. At…

PANAMÁ CITY, 25 April 2022 – In only five years, the complete vaccination schedule for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) in Latin America and the Caribbean has dropped from 90 percent in 2015 to 76 percent in 2020, according to data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and UNICEF . This implies that one in four children in the…

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PANAMA CITY, 10 March 2022 – Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, 46 per cent of households with children in eleven Latin American countries and the Eastern Caribbean only have enough savings to cover their basic needs for two weeks or less, according to a new regional survey conducted by UNICEF and the applied research organization IMPACT…

Understanding the challenges they face is a starting point to promote a healthy lifestyle and improve access to nutritious food. During the pandemic, it has been difficult for many families to have access to healthy food. The confinement measures led to the interruption of health and nutrition services in the region and school feeding programs…

Childhood overweight and obesity rates in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are among the highest globally, where nearly four million children under 5 have overweight.[1] The school environment is one of the places where children learn health, nutrition, and physical activity habits. Considering the amount of time children spend at school, it…