Angola: whatever it takes to save a child – bed nets against malaria

‘Bed nets smell weird...they have something in them that kills the bugs and keeps us safe from being stung by mosquitoes’. Sani, a young girl, shows off a new bed net received free of charge from her health centre. Sani lives in Malanje, a beautiful lush green town in Angola with a peaceful and laid back air.   However, in Malanje, as everywhere else in the country, Angolans still have to fight against killer diseases, and chief among these is malaria. Malaria is the largest single cause of death in all age groups, and children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable. Mosquito nets, provided by UNICEF and the Ministry of Health, are protecting families from malaria. Arminda Jose, 33, pregnant and a proud mother…

In Pakistan, a doctor fights back flood waters to save his family

Dr. Arshad Durani is an immunization specialist working for UNICEF in northern Pakistan. Despite the destruction of his own home, Dr. Durani continues to lead immunization efforts in flood-ravaged Charsaddah…

Reaching out for Shelter

Families Displaced by Pakistan Floods By: Raabya Amjad, 8 August 2010 Tired and expressionless faces searching for answers to their misery gathered in a secondary school which has been turned into…

'We don't have any food left in this village'

UNICEF and partners respond as food crisis in Niger reaches a critical level By Bob Coen Niger, 3 August 2010 – Much-needed rains have begun falling across this parched West African country,…

A Safe Haven in Mozambique

By Shantha Bloemen The girl was only 12 years old when her father raped her. She reached out to her mother for help, but her mother did not believe her. Unable to deal with the trauma, the girl traveled…

A Pledge of Protection

Ishmael Beah fought in Sierra Leone's civil war when he was just 13 years old. He was forced to fight, to kill, to take drugs. Now he is UNICEF’s Advocate for Children Affected by War. Emmanuel Jal…

Second Chance for a Would-Be Child Bride

By Chris Niles. Rajasthan, India. Babalu was 13 when her community decided she should be married. “I thought my life would be completely ruined,” she said. Child marriage is illegal in India, but…

The Impact of Football: Tshepo from South Africa

Tshepo's Story My name is Tshepo Mashego from South Africa. I’m 14 years old and I’m from the township of Thubelihle, outside Witbank. I go to school at the local High School where most of the windows…

The impact of Football: Ander from Honduras

Ander's story My name is Ander Vasquez from Honduras and I’m 14 years old. I live with my family in Villanueva, a neighborhood in Tegucigalpa which is mostly known for violent gangs. My life has…

The impact of Football: Eric from the Ivory Coast

Eric's Story My name is Eric, I’m 13 years old and I am in my second year of high school. I live with my mother in Bondoukou in the North East of the Ivory Coast. In Bondoukou, many of my friends were…