In UNICEF is a specialized agency of the UN. Its full name is the United Nations Children's
Fund. UNICEF works in more than 100 countries to improve conditions for children. The
Fund is currently conducting programmes in about 150 countries in all continents to help
protect children from disease and prepare them for healthy, productive adult lives. It was
created in 1946 and has received the Nobel Prize for its work.
In Uzbekistan UNICEF is working with the government to improve four areas of health
care: health and nutrition, water and environmental sanitation, education, and providing
for the psychological and social needs of vulnerable children.
There are programmes to upgrade health care facilities (for example by providing them
with disposable syringes for vaccinations as they are more hygienic) and to provide bet-
ter nutrition (for example by distributing iodised salt for cooking).
In Khorezm and Karakalpakstan, two regions particularly badly affected by drought,
there are programmes to repair desalination units, to provide chemicals to make water
safe to drink, to provide water testing equipment so that scientists can monitor the quality
of water provided and to provide hand pumps for pumping water,
in some areas the schools are not in good condition so UNICEF has programmes to
help repair and equip the schools
, and build new toilets to improve sanitation and health.
The fourth area that UNICEF is currently working in is to support children who have
special problems, those with no family, and those with physical and mental problems.
For more information about UNICEF visit the website at www.unicef.org/uzbekistan/​