UNICEF has been working for children and women in DPR of Korea for 11 years. The 1996 Country Program includes a wide range of project activities on health, nutrition and education, in addition to the Flood Damage Relief Program.
Several components on health have been included in the 1996 Country Program. Given the fact that the main reasons for child mortality in DPR of Korea are diarrhoeal and acute respiratory diseases, the control and treatment of these are both important and necessary. This will be done through training of medical personnel, through certain changes in the curricula for doctors and nurses, and in-depth training for senior pediatricians. Improvement and re-establishment of ORS (Oral Rehydration Salt) production facilities, import of drugs for acute respiratory diseases and study visits abroad for national health personnel have also been included. Another main task for UNICEF is to support the vaccination program of DPR of Korea, in order to maintain high coverage while improving the efficiency and effectiveness of vaccines, and to strengthen the "cold chain" storage all over the country. Medical doctors working in the field of public health, will undertake study visits abroad. Twenty program managers and 250 health workers will undergo training, in order to improve surveillance and management of EPI programs (Expanded Program of Immunization).
In the nutritional field, UNICEF is working with senior pediatricians in-country to implement the "Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative", first in the Maternity Hospital of Pyongyang, later in the 12 provincial maternity hospitals. The Pyongyang Maternity Hospital will be designated a Baby Friendly hospital by June 1996. This initiative includes the strengthening of breast-feeding practices immediately after birth and to improve general practices and procedures of breast-feeding.
UNICEF is also working with the Government in order to virtually eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorders from the country through provision of iodised salt to the whole population.
In the field of education, the main objective is to improve quality and effectiveness of video teaching materials. This will improve the quality of teaching in the branch schools in the remote areas. Overseas training for producers of educational videos will be undertaken, and audiovisual equipment will be purchased and distributed to branch schools. UNICEF will also provide paper for re-printing of textbooks and workbooks.
Other projects are also ongoing to improve monitoring and evaluation procedures.
After the flooding in 1995, UNICEF concentrated its relief effort in three main areas; provision of supplementary food, measles vaccination and control of diarrhoeal diseases. During the first three months phase of the relief program, which is ongoing, UNICEF is supporting 55,000 children with a food item rich in calories and high in protein the so called Corn Soya Blend (CSB). Already 410 metric tons have been distributed to the two worst flood-affected provinces, North Pyongan and North Hwanghae. An additional 900 metric tons are expected later in March.
Given the fact that measles seems to appear where there are crowding, low immunity and a significant level of malnutrition, the Public Health authorities have already vaccinated more than 601,000 children between nine months and five years in the two above mentioned provinces. All materials and vaccines were provided through UNICEF, and an international staff member has monitored the campaign. Concerning control of diarrhoeal diseases, more than 250,000 sachets of Oral Rehydration Salt have been distributed to hospitals, clinics and nurseries in five provinces. The Oral Rehydration Salt is a well known, effective and cheap way of treating diarrhoea, and has saved millions of lives all over the world.
Future plans for the relief operation include distribution of supplementary food for children under five until the harvest in October. UNICEF has estimated the need to 7,800 MT. UNICEF is also aiming at the measles immunization of 1,73 million children, which will cover all children between nine months and five years in DPR of Korea. A review of the ORS production capacity will also take place, with the aim to establish a new factory in Pyongyang. The ORS Factory in North Pyongan province was totally destroyed during the 1995 flooding.
The Relief Program has to date received1,531,570 US $ from the governments of Sweden, Japan, Holland, Denmark, USA and Switzerland, in addition to ECHO, and UNICEF's own resources. Continuous support for the second phase of the program is urgently needed. Information will be provided through UNICEF Area Office for Thailand, Malaysia and DPR of Korea (in Bangkok).
Please contact Ms. Misaki A. Ueda,
Facsimile: (662)-281-6033
Phone: (662)-280-5931
Internet address: maueda@unicef.org
Bernard Krisher
4-1-7-605 Hiroo
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (150)
Tel: +81-3-3486-4337
Fax: +81-3-3486-6789
Mobile: +81-30-08-88493
(In Tokyo) 030-08-88493
Internet: bernie@media.mit.edu