China News Service, Beijing, February 18 (Bo Wenwen) Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF, issued an annual open letter on the 17th calling for attention to the five issues brought about by the global pandemic. Children redraw a better world after the epidemic.
Fore pointed out in the open letter that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed to the international community that renewing the world’s confidence in vaccines, addressing the challenges facing adolescents’ mental health, eliminating discrimination, tackling climate change, and bridging the digital divide are the challenges faced by children worldwide. Five major opportunities.
Data map: A woman working in a nursing home in Berlin, Germany, received the new crown vaccination.
Fore warned that the phenomenon of "vaccine hesitation" will have a profound impact on epidemic prevention.
Fore wrote that while working with governments, partners, and donors to support global vaccine procurement, transportation, and distribution, we must build trust in vaccines so that the public can accept them.
"If there is a lack of trust, the vaccine is just an expensive vial in the doctor's cabinet."
Regarding mental health, Faure said that the new crown epidemic has caused an upward trend of mental health disorders in children and adolescents, which is very worrying, so she called on the international community to take further measures.
She said in the letter: “Countries need to invest sufficient budgets to address mental health issues, significantly increase mental health services and support for children and adolescents in communities and schools, and combine related parenting projects to ensure that children from disadvantaged families are You can get the support and protection you need at home."
Fore also pointed out that global blockade and isolation have exposed the inherent unfairness of the digital divide.
At the peak of school closures in 2020, about 30% of school-age children in the world are unable to conduct distance learning, and some of them have difficulty in obtaining quality education.
In her letter, she called for "reimagining education" and bridging the digital divide, using digital tools to reshape education, and make a big leap towards the future.
The end of the open letter pointed out that this moment of opportunity is crucial.
“The international community must be committed to achieving an inclusive recovery that prioritizes investment in children and children’s rights.” Fore wrote, “This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of UNICEF. Let us continue to help every child repaint the beautiful The mission of the future is to strengthen the sense of urgency, become a solid force behind children and adolescents, create opportunities for them, help them ignite their dreams, and provide all-round support for improving their lives." (End)