ADVERTISEMENT
Catherine Russell visits India, appoints first youth advocate for UNICEF India
Russell reaffirmed UNICEF's dedication to advancing its 74-year cooperation with the people and government of India to realise the SDGs for every child living in the nation.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell / (Image - Unicefchief/X)
Catherine Russell, the executive director of UNICEF, recently wrapped up her four-day visit to India, where she highlighted the development of millions of vulnerable children's health and well-being and appealed to world leaders to prioritize investing in children to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for the planet.
”India has the world’s largest child population. By investing in community health workers, the country has made impressive gains in vaccinating children and fighting deadly diseases, including measles and diarrhoea, while also saving millions of children from malnutrition,” said Russell.
During the visit, she also announced the appointment of 16-year-old deaf Olympic gold medalist Gauranshi Sharma as the first youth advocate for UNICEF India. The Youth Hub Platform, a unique digital app was launched, to hasten the achievement of numerous SDGs, such as lowering inequality and fostering possibilities for decent work.
Russell spoke with senior officials from the Indian government as well as children, young people, and members of their communities, including local health professionals. She also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary.
To meet women frontline health workers in Lucknow and observe firsthand their critical role in providing a variety of necessary services to save lives in the remotest villages throughout India, she journeyed to Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populated state.
Lauding the women workers in India, Russell said, “India’s women-led frontline workers are a success story that we can all learn from. Working in villages across India, they are improving the health and well-being of children and families, one family at a time.”
"India has shown the world that progress is possible when children are prioritized. Countries around the world can draw valuable insights from India's experience,” added Russell. “However, we must build on this momentum to overcome existing challenges and ensure a better future for every child. There is still a long way to go.”
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
.jpg)
.png)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login