146.5mm FLAP
148.5mm BACK
Challenge and change in Guinea Bissau
Real progress
Guinea Bissau is gradually recovering from past political turmoil, most notably the 1998 Civil War and subsequent instability, which damaged the country’s economy and devastated its infrastructure. The government is now trying to rebuild the economy but the people remain desperately poor.
With the support of Plan, children and adults in Guinea Bissau are working together to develop their communities and claim their right to a better future. And real progress is being made. Last year, our work included:
Plan’s priorities include improving the quality of basic education, healthcare, water and sanitation. Child labour and exploitation are widespread, so raising awareness of children’s rights and child protection are crucial. Children are a key source of household and farming labour, and traditional values mean that children have very little say in household and community decision-making. We work to set up children’s clubs and media activities which give children the chance to express their needs and aspirations, and to take part in decisions that affect their lives. One way children can take part is by encouraging their parents to vaccinate babies against disease – a project we look at in detail in this Country Progress Report.
p Plan organised a Children’s Carnival in Bafa ta, northern Guinea Bissau, to raise commun ity awareness of the Righ ts of the Child. 300 children took part
Guinea Bissau country facts Capital: Bissau
People without adequate sanitation: 65%
UN Human Development Index ranking: 173rd (of 177 countries)
Primary school-age pupils not attending school: 61%
Life expectancy at birth: 45 years
(Sources: the UN, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
Population: 1.5 million
• Helping increase rates of children enrolling in primary school in Bafata, from 20% in 2000 to 71.5% in 2005
• Constructing 15 boreholes, providing
• Building 23 school latrines and hand-washing facilities, and training 23 communities in safe hygiene practices, reducing diseases like cholera and diarrhoea
Any enquiries please contact: Nick Burton. e: nick@bright-uk.com m: 07884 367567. d: 020 7620 8150 Size (Prod)
Colours(Prod)
Art (A/D)
Copy (C/W)
Content (Acc.)
u a s s i B a e n i u G
• Distributing 91,183 free bed-nets to protect against malaria, a major killer of children and pregnant women.
Plan’s greatest successes come from a joint effort combining the hard work and determination of communities, children, volunteers, staff, and partner organisations. The ongoing support of our sponsors is a vital ingredient, too. It’s their generosity and commitment that allows us to continue to help children in 49 of the poorest countries in the world. So on behalf of the children and communities we work with, thank you to all our sponsors!
GNB
0407 100647 PLAN 0407_Guinea Bissau 04.12.07 210x443.5mm FOLD TO A5 Client proof: 2 3
p We enco urage children ’s groups like part in commun this one to tak ity developme e nt, so our work their needs meets
15 communities with safe, clean drinking water near their homes all year round, and reducing waterborne diseases
Plan UK Registered Charity No: 276035
Admagic No: Bright No: Client name: File name: Date: Size: Studio proof:
148.5mm FRONT
Country Progress Report 2007
146.5mm FLAP
148.5mm BACK
Challenge and change in Guinea Bissau
Real progress
Guinea Bissau is gradually recovering from past political turmoil, most notably the 1998 Civil War and subsequent instability, which damaged the country’s economy and devastated its infrastructure. The government is now trying to rebuild the economy but the people remain desperately poor.
With the support of Plan, children and adults in Guinea Bissau are working together to develop their communities and claim their right to a better future. And real progress is being made. Last year, our work included:
Plan’s priorities include improving the quality of basic education, healthcare, water and sanitation. Child labour and exploitation are widespread, so raising awareness of children’s rights and child protection are crucial. Children are a key source of household and farming labour, and traditional values mean that children have very little say in household and community decision-making. We work to set up children’s clubs and media activities which give children the chance to express their needs and aspirations, and to take part in decisions that affect their lives. One way children can take part is by encouraging their parents to vaccinate babies against disease – a project we look at in detail in this Country Progress Report.
p Plan organised a Children’s Carnival in Bafa ta, northern Guinea Bissau, to raise commun ity awareness of the Righ ts of the Child. 300 children took part
Guinea Bissau country facts Capital: Bissau
People without adequate sanitation: 65%
UN Human Development Index ranking: 173rd (of 177 countries)
Primary school-age pupils not attending school: 61%
Life expectancy at birth: 45 years
(Sources: the UN, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
Population: 1.5 million
• Helping increase rates of children enrolling in primary school in Bafata, from 20% in 2000 to 71.5% in 2005
• Constructing 15 boreholes, providing
• Building 23 school latrines and hand-washing facilities, and training 23 communities in safe hygiene practices, reducing diseases like cholera and diarrhoea
Any enquiries please contact: Nick Burton. e: nick@bright-uk.com m: 07884 367567. d: 020 7620 8150 Size (Prod)
Colours(Prod)
Art (A/D)
Copy (C/W)
Content (Acc.)
u a s s i B a e n i u G
• Distributing 91,183 free bed-nets to protect against malaria, a major killer of children and pregnant women.
Plan’s greatest successes come from a joint effort combining the hard work and determination of communities, children, volunteers, staff, and partner organisations. The ongoing support of our sponsors is a vital ingredient, too. It’s their generosity and commitment that allows us to continue to help children in 49 of the poorest countries in the world. So on behalf of the children and communities we work with, thank you to all our sponsors!
GNB
0407 100647 PLAN 0407_Guinea Bissau 04.12.07 210x443.5mm FOLD TO A5 Client proof: 2 3
p We enco urage children ’s groups like part in commun this one to tak ity developme e nt, so our work their needs meets
15 communities with safe, clean drinking water near their homes all year round, and reducing waterborne diseases
Plan UK Registered Charity No: 276035
Admagic No: Bright No: Client name: File name: Date: Size: Studio proof:
148.5mm FRONT
Country Progress Report 2007
148.5mm INSIDE
Saving children’s lives “Children are the flowers of our communities and societies.”
Fatumata is four years old and lives with her father Seco and mother Djabu in Guinea Bissau’s central Bafata region. Seco is a civil servant and Djabu looks after their three children. The family lives in a cement house with stagnant, dirty water nearby, which can cause waterborne diseases. Fatumata’s mother became aware of the need for vaccination when a friend of hers suffered a double tragedy. “For me, vaccination became very
had died. Their mother said that her children had never received vaccinations. The health worker urged the other mothers in the village to protect their children by making sure they had their vaccinations. From that moment on, Djabu realised the importance of defending her children against life-threatening diseases.
This national saying illustrates how many parents in Guinea Bissau feel about their children. Tragically, many of them lose their offspring early. The country has one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the world, and the most shocking thing is that most of these deaths are caused by preventable diseases. Every year, thousands of children die unnecessarily from killer diseases like measles, tetanus, and whooping cough – although they could be easily be protected by vaccination.
148.5mm INSIDE
p In Guinea Bissau, thousands of children die of preventable diseas es like measles and whooping cough
important because of my past experiences,” she says. “In the year 2000, a neighbour of mine lost two of her children due to measles because they were not vaccinated.”
Every year thousands of children die unnecessarily from killer diseases like measles, tetanus and whooping cough. After the measles outbreak of 2000, a health worker came to the village where Fatumata and her family live, and asked to see the vaccination cards belonging to the two children who
Sadly, Fatumata’s neighbours were not the only family hit by tragedy: in this area, children under five very often died of measles as the number vaccinated was very low. Despite the fact that vaccines save lives, most families like Fatumata’s did not realise the benefits. Many were also unaware when children should receive different vaccinations and of when these were available at their local health centre. Shortages of vaccines didn’t help either. And although vaccinations are free, many families didn’t realise this, and they didn’t bring their children because they thought they couldn’t afford to.
Every child has the right to protection But encouraging parents to get involved is only part of the story. Providing vaccinations needs resources – not just
the obvious things like syringes, needles and vaccines themselves, but trained health workers and a refrigeration and transportation system to keep the vaccines effective.
Plan carries out radio campaigns to make communities aware of the importance of vaccination, not just for children but also for women of child-bearing age. Guinea Bissau doesn’t produce its own vaccines, so all vaccines and equipment have to be imported. And even if vaccines are available, lack of transportation and poor roads can make it difficult to get both vaccines and health workers out to the villages that need them. There is a shortage of qualified health workers, and those that are qualified are overloaded with work. Plan tries to make it easier for all parents to get their children vaccinated by providing vaccinations in local health centres as well as mobile clinics, where health workers travel each month to isolated villages. Education is also crucial: Plan carries out radio campaigns to make communities aware of the importance of vaccination, not just for children but also for women of childbearing age.
146.5mm INSIDE
An enthusiastic response The results of all these efforts have been impressive, proving that once parents know the benefits of vaccination, they are keen to protect their children. In one area, Contuboel in northern Bafata, 100% of children have been vaccinated against p Plan is helping to make sure children like these get the vaccinations measles. A fixed weekly they need vaccination clinic along with awarenessraising sessions was organised in the to improve healthcare for pregnant local health centre. A total of 88,707 women and to raise awareness of children between six months and 14 HIV/AIDS. years old were vaccinated. The number Djabu makes sure that all her children of children under five dying from are protected: “My children have never measles and other preventable diseases caught any vaccine-preventable diseases has been reduced dramatically: and I always try to respect the at Contuboel Health Centre, there were vaccination calendar.” no reported cases of measles in children Some names have been changed for privacy and child under five in 2006. protection reasons.
The vaccination programme is part of Plan’s programme to improve mother and child health and to reduce the numbers of children dying in childhood or infancy. As well as increasing vaccination rates, we are working hard to decrease Guinea Bissau’s high rates of malaria, malnutrition and diarrhoea,
148.5mm INSIDE
Saving children’s lives “Children are the flowers of our communities and societies.”
Fatumata is four years old and lives with her father Seco and mother Djabu in Guinea Bissau’s central Bafata region. Seco is a civil servant and Djabu looks after their three children. The family lives in a cement house with stagnant, dirty water nearby, which can cause waterborne diseases. Fatumata’s mother became aware of the need for vaccination when a friend of hers suffered a double tragedy. “For me, vaccination became very
had died. Their mother said that her children had never received vaccinations. The health worker urged the other mothers in the village to protect their children by making sure they had their vaccinations. From that moment on, Djabu realised the importance of defending her children against life-threatening diseases.
This national saying illustrates how many parents in Guinea Bissau feel about their children. Tragically, many of them lose their offspring early. The country has one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the world, and the most shocking thing is that most of these deaths are caused by preventable diseases. Every year, thousands of children die unnecessarily from killer diseases like measles, tetanus, and whooping cough – although they could be easily be protected by vaccination.
148.5mm INSIDE
p In Guinea Bissau, thousands of children die of preventable diseas es like measles and whooping cough
important because of my past experiences,” she says. “In the year 2000, a neighbour of mine lost two of her children due to measles because they were not vaccinated.”
Every year thousands of children die unnecessarily from killer diseases like measles, tetanus and whooping cough. After the measles outbreak of 2000, a health worker came to the village where Fatumata and her family live, and asked to see the vaccination cards belonging to the two children who
Sadly, Fatumata’s neighbours were not the only family hit by tragedy: in this area, children under five very often died of measles as the number vaccinated was very low. Despite the fact that vaccines save lives, most families like Fatumata’s did not realise the benefits. Many were also unaware when children should receive different vaccinations and of when these were available at their local health centre. Shortages of vaccines didn’t help either. And although vaccinations are free, many families didn’t realise this, and they didn’t bring their children because they thought they couldn’t afford to.
Every child has the right to protection But encouraging parents to get involved is only part of the story. Providing vaccinations needs resources – not just
the obvious things like syringes, needles and vaccines themselves, but trained health workers and a refrigeration and transportation system to keep the vaccines effective.
Plan carries out radio campaigns to make communities aware of the importance of vaccination, not just for children but also for women of child-bearing age. Guinea Bissau doesn’t produce its own vaccines, so all vaccines and equipment have to be imported. And even if vaccines are available, lack of transportation and poor roads can make it difficult to get both vaccines and health workers out to the villages that need them. There is a shortage of qualified health workers, and those that are qualified are overloaded with work. Plan tries to make it easier for all parents to get their children vaccinated by providing vaccinations in local health centres as well as mobile clinics, where health workers travel each month to isolated villages. Education is also crucial: Plan carries out radio campaigns to make communities aware of the importance of vaccination, not just for children but also for women of childbearing age.
146.5mm INSIDE
An enthusiastic response The results of all these efforts have been impressive, proving that once parents know the benefits of vaccination, they are keen to protect their children. In one area, Contuboel in northern Bafata, 100% of children have been vaccinated against p Plan is helping to make sure children like these get the vaccinations measles. A fixed weekly they need vaccination clinic along with awarenessraising sessions was organised in the to improve healthcare for pregnant local health centre. A total of 88,707 women and to raise awareness of children between six months and 14 HIV/AIDS. years old were vaccinated. The number Djabu makes sure that all her children of children under five dying from are protected: “My children have never measles and other preventable diseases caught any vaccine-preventable diseases has been reduced dramatically: and I always try to respect the at Contuboel Health Centre, there were vaccination calendar.” no reported cases of measles in children Some names have been changed for privacy and child under five in 2006. protection reasons.
The vaccination programme is part of Plan’s programme to improve mother and child health and to reduce the numbers of children dying in childhood or infancy. As well as increasing vaccination rates, we are working hard to decrease Guinea Bissau’s high rates of malaria, malnutrition and diarrhoea,
148.5mm INSIDE
Saving children’s lives “Children are the flowers of our communities and societies.”
Fatumata is four years old and lives with her father Seco and mother Djabu in Guinea Bissau’s central Bafata region. Seco is a civil servant and Djabu looks after their three children. The family lives in a cement house with stagnant, dirty water nearby, which can cause waterborne diseases. Fatumata’s mother became aware of the need for vaccination when a friend of hers suffered a double tragedy. “For me, vaccination became very
had died. Their mother said that her children had never received vaccinations. The health worker urged the other mothers in the village to protect their children by making sure they had their vaccinations. From that moment on, Djabu realised the importance of defending her children against life-threatening diseases.
This national saying illustrates how many parents in Guinea Bissau feel about their children. Tragically, many of them lose their offspring early. The country has one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the world, and the most shocking thing is that most of these deaths are caused by preventable diseases. Every year, thousands of children die unnecessarily from killer diseases like measles, tetanus, and whooping cough – although they could be easily be protected by vaccination.
148.5mm INSIDE
p In Guinea Bissau, thousands of children die of preventable diseas es like measles and whooping cough
important because of my past experiences,” she says. “In the year 2000, a neighbour of mine lost two of her children due to measles because they were not vaccinated.”
Every year thousands of children die unnecessarily from killer diseases like measles, tetanus and whooping cough. After the measles outbreak of 2000, a health worker came to the village where Fatumata and her family live, and asked to see the vaccination cards belonging to the two children who
Sadly, Fatumata’s neighbours were not the only family hit by tragedy: in this area, children under five very often died of measles as the number vaccinated was very low. Despite the fact that vaccines save lives, most families like Fatumata’s did not realise the benefits. Many were also unaware when children should receive different vaccinations and of when these were available at their local health centre. Shortages of vaccines didn’t help either. And although vaccinations are free, many families didn’t realise this, and they didn’t bring their children because they thought they couldn’t afford to.
Every child has the right to protection But encouraging parents to get involved is only part of the story. Providing vaccinations needs resources – not just
the obvious things like syringes, needles and vaccines themselves, but trained health workers and a refrigeration and transportation system to keep the vaccines effective.
Plan carries out radio campaigns to make communities aware of the importance of vaccination, not just for children but also for women of child-bearing age. Guinea Bissau doesn’t produce its own vaccines, so all vaccines and equipment have to be imported. And even if vaccines are available, lack of transportation and poor roads can make it difficult to get both vaccines and health workers out to the villages that need them. There is a shortage of qualified health workers, and those that are qualified are overloaded with work. Plan tries to make it easier for all parents to get their children vaccinated by providing vaccinations in local health centres as well as mobile clinics, where health workers travel each month to isolated villages. Education is also crucial: Plan carries out radio campaigns to make communities aware of the importance of vaccination, not just for children but also for women of childbearing age.
146.5mm INSIDE
An enthusiastic response The results of all these efforts have been impressive, proving that once parents know the benefits of vaccination, they are keen to protect their children. In one area, Contuboel in northern Bafata, 100% of children have been vaccinated against p Plan is helping to make sure children like these get the vaccinations measles. A fixed weekly they need vaccination clinic along with awarenessraising sessions was organised in the to improve healthcare for pregnant local health centre. A total of 88,707 women and to raise awareness of children between six months and 14 HIV/AIDS. years old were vaccinated. The number Djabu makes sure that all her children of children under five dying from are protected: “My children have never measles and other preventable diseases caught any vaccine-preventable diseases has been reduced dramatically: and I always try to respect the at Contuboel Health Centre, there were vaccination calendar.” no reported cases of measles in children Some names have been changed for privacy and child under five in 2006. protection reasons.
The vaccination programme is part of Plan’s programme to improve mother and child health and to reduce the numbers of children dying in childhood or infancy. As well as increasing vaccination rates, we are working hard to decrease Guinea Bissau’s high rates of malaria, malnutrition and diarrhoea,
146.5mm FLAP
148.5mm BACK
Challenge and change in Guinea Bissau
Real progress
Guinea Bissau is gradually recovering from past political turmoil, most notably the 1998 Civil War and subsequent instability, which damaged the country’s economy and devastated its infrastructure. The government is now trying to rebuild the economy but the people remain desperately poor.
With the support of Plan, children and adults in Guinea Bissau are working together to develop their communities and claim their right to a better future. And real progress is being made. Last year, our work included:
Plan’s priorities include improving the quality of basic education, healthcare, water and sanitation. Child labour and exploitation are widespread, so raising awareness of children’s rights and child protection are crucial. Children are a key source of household and farming labour, and traditional values mean that children have very little say in household and community decision-making. We work to set up children’s clubs and media activities which give children the chance to express their needs and aspirations, and to take part in decisions that affect their lives. One way children can take part is by encouraging their parents to vaccinate babies against disease – a project we look at in detail in this Country Progress Report.
p Plan organised a Children’s Carnival in Bafa ta, northern Guinea Bissau, to raise commun ity awareness of the Righ ts of the Child. 300 children took part
Guinea Bissau country facts Capital: Bissau
People without adequate sanitation: 65%
UN Human Development Index ranking: 173rd (of 177 countries)
Primary school-age pupils not attending school: 61%
Life expectancy at birth: 45 years
(Sources: the UN, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
Population: 1.5 million
• Helping increase rates of children enrolling in primary school in Bafata, from 20% in 2000 to 71.5% in 2005
• Constructing 15 boreholes, providing
• Building 23 school latrines and hand-washing facilities, and training 23 communities in safe hygiene practices, reducing diseases like cholera and diarrhoea
Any enquiries please contact: Nick Burton. e: nick@bright-uk.com m: 07884 367567. d: 020 7620 8150 Size (Prod)
Colours(Prod)
Art (A/D)
Copy (C/W)
Content (Acc.)
u a s s i B a e n i u G
• Distributing 91,183 free bed-nets to protect against malaria, a major killer of children and pregnant women.
Plan’s greatest successes come from a joint effort combining the hard work and determination of communities, children, volunteers, staff, and partner organisations. The ongoing support of our sponsors is a vital ingredient, too. It’s their generosity and commitment that allows us to continue to help children in 49 of the poorest countries in the world. So on behalf of the children and communities we work with, thank you to all our sponsors!
GNB
0407 100647 PLAN 0407_Guinea Bissau 04.12.07 210x443.5mm FOLD TO A5 Client proof: 2 3
p We enco urage children ’s groups like part in commun this one to tak ity developme e nt, so our work their needs meets
15 communities with safe, clean drinking water near their homes all year round, and reducing waterborne diseases
Plan UK Registered Charity No: 276035
Admagic No: Bright No: Client name: File name: Date: Size: Studio proof:
148.5mm FRONT
Country Progress Report 2007