Climate change and child health and nutrition in Nicaragua

Donna L. Goodman, Executive Director, Earth Child Institute for UNICEF

A world that is not working for children…“Protect the Earth for children. We must safeguard our natural environment, with its diversity of life, its beauty and its resources, all of which enhance the quality of life, for present and future generations. We will give every assistance to protect children and minimize the impact of natural disasters and environmental degradation on them.”

A World Fit for Children, 2002, paragraph 7, section 10, United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children, 2002

Uncertainty and increasing vulnerability• Flooding in traditionally dry areas• Drought in traditionally flooded areas• Changing temperatures• Breeding conditions for mosquito vectors• Loss of crops

Combined with…

• Abject poverty• Limited access to healthcare and medicine • Irregular schooling• Lack of sanitation facilities• Lack of water• Lack of seeds or crops for food• Lack of energy

Rampant deforestation…

What does deforestation have to do with child health?• Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem imbalance• Destabilization of the soil • Affect on food security • ARI related to indoor air pollution for household energy• Community and domestic violence• Shade and protection • Intergenerational justice

Disasters waiting to happen…

Chronic undernutrition…

Cambio Climático

Mayor incidencia de plagas y

enfermedades

Bajos rendimientos y Perdidas de

cosechaEscases de alimentos

DesnutriciónSusceptibilidad a

enfermedades

Menores Ingresos

Insostenibilidad

Variaciones del tiempo

Producción agrícola

SequíasHuracanes

Source: IMPRHU

Chronic acute respiratory illness exascerbated

ENERO

FEBRER

O

MARZOABRIL

MAYOJU

NIOJU

LIO

AGOSTO

SEPTIEM

BRE

OCTUBRE

NOVIEMBRE

DICIEMBRE0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

143 116185

82

188 189

689

131

240

324 341

77

Comportamiento mensual IRAs

N° de casosSource: Prinzipolka Health Center

Chronic diarrhoeal disease exascerbated

ENER

O

FEBRER

O

MARZOABRIL

MAYOJU

NIOJU

LIO

AGOSTO

SEPTIE

MBRE

OCTUBRE

NOVIEMBRE

DICIEMBRE

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

16 20

111

4879 81

263

5832

133 120

55

Comportamiento mensual EDAs

N° de casos

Source: Prinzipolka Health Center

Comparativo de dosis aplicadaen < de in año 2009 -2010

en el Municipio- Prinzapolka

Source: Prinzipolka Health Center

60 percent of schools without WASH and many of those that have facilities are being vandalized…

Source: MinEd, photo is a primary school in San Lucas, WASH supported by UNICEF/IMPRHU

What is the future of a country without education of its citizens?

Children not in school in three out of four communities visited in Prinzipolka

What is working?Vaccine campaigns

BUT:80-100 percent coverage in Nueva Segovia and Madriz… 50 percent in Prinzipolka

What is working?School gardens and feeding programmes

BUT:Not common in most schools, not existent in Prinzipolka

What is working?Productive package

BUT:Pigs are not working Need training, many sell produce and still eat junkNot in Prinzipolka

What is working?Community integrated health model

BUT:Supplies are insufficientNot reaching most vulnerable in Prinzipolka

RecommendationsMany new strategies and policies, now time to put theory into practice.

•Increase coverage and access to meds, soap and vaccines (meds for midwives in communities to reduce maternal mortality)• Community health posts in Prinzipolka and other similar areas• Children need shoes!!! to stay healthy with chronic MUD and contaminated water• Children NEED to be in school!!!! (every day) and they need school supplies, paper, pencils, chalk• Stop or at least decrease deforestation • Hygiene and sanitation promotion and alternate design latrines in Prinzipolka• People need livelihoods: introduce vocations to poorest (ie IMPRHU eco-agricultural technology training center; and ACF Food for Work)• Crop diversification• Training and capacity development to accompany productive package• Propose week-long cross-sectoral national training workshop for integration of above with subsequent sub-national trainings•Leverage opportunity to promote the paper for advocacy and fundraising•Child and youth participation

Muchas gracias!!!