Friend,
Imagine being a child in an impoverished country who keeps getting sick over and over again with no end to illness in sight. If they manage to get better, they’re still at risk of being infected or contaminated again because of inadequate access to safe water sources or a lack of health care access. Routine vaccinations and innovations in health care technology could drastically change the course of a child’s future.
Vaccines save lives — period. That’s why this year UNICEF is doubling down on reaching every child, everywhere with vaccines, allowing them to pursue brighter futures. A recent renewed effort in Haiti shows exactly how increased and improved vaccine distribution can save lives.
After an outbreak of cholera in late 2022, where 2 out of 5 confirmed cases were children, UNICEF launched a campaign to vaccinate about 1.7 million people against cholera, in addition to other critical interventions to improve health care access and mitigate the impacts of gang violence. When combined with the existing malnutrition that over 100,000 Haitian children face, cholera can often be deadly. And this isn’t exclusive to Haiti. In many countries around the world, vaccines are a lifeline for families dealing with complex crises.
Read about vaccine efforts in Haiti
When 6-month-old Jamesly needs routine vaccinations, his mother Rosemirlande walks over three miles from her village to the Sacre Coeur Health Center in Les Cayes, Haiti. On the day pictured above, Rosemirlande was joined by 20 other mothers and caregivers who were also waiting to have their children vaccinated. It’s well worth the wait and the trip to ensure their future health and safety.
Learn more about vaccine innovations
Persistent electricity shortages in Haiti make it difficult to keep vaccines at the proper temperature. With support from UNICEF, 96 percent of Haiti’s health care facilities now rely on solar power and health centers can continuously stay well-equipped to receive vaccines for children. More children like Jamesly will be able to receive routine vaccinations to stay healthy and thrive.
Take a moment today to learn more about UNICEF’s renewed focus on vaccines for all children and innovative programs around the world in our latest 2023 State of the World’s Children report
Thank you,
The UNICEF USA Team
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