State of the World's Children Report 2008

UNICEF released their State of the World's Children Report earlier this year. They should have tables for each country available soon and if I remember I will let you know or post it. In the meantime, here are some interesting stats and numbers:

1. Under-five mortality rankings. Note that of the worst 10, all are in sub-Saharan Africa except for one (Afghanistan). Indeed 38 of the 39 worst under-5 countries, are sub-Saharan African countries! All of the best countries, except for one (Singapore) are European.

• Worst (Highest rates) 10: Sierra Leone, Angola, Afghanistan, Niger, Liberia, Mali, Chad Equatorial Guinea, DRCongo, Burkina Faso
• Best Worst (Lowest rates) 10: Sweden, Singapore, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Andorra, Spain, Slovenia, Norway, Monaco

2. Nutrition. For Sierra Leone

• Percentage of infants with low birthweight in 2006: 24
• Percentage of under-5's (2000-2006) suffering from: being underweight-30 (8% severe)

3. Health. For Sierra Leone

• Orphans (children aged 0-17) due to all causes, 2005: ~340,000 (31,000 to AIDS)

4. Education. For Sierra Leone.

• Youth (15-24 years) literacy rate 2000-2006: male-60%, female-37%

5. Demographic Info: For Sierra Leone.

• Population (thousands) 2006-- under 18: 2827, under 5: 999
• Life Expectancy: In 1970-35 years, In 2006-42
• Total fertility rate (2006): 6.5
• Percentage of population urbanized (2006): 41

6. Child Protection: For Sierra Leone.

• Percentage of child labor (5-14 years) 1999-2006: Total--48
• Percentage of children living with disability 1999-2006: 23

For a more succinct version and to learn what some of the terminology means, visit the page below--

SoWCR in 20 Questions (and Answers):

http://www.unicef.org/sowc08/youth/informed.php

Article: The Importance of Good Nutrition Early On

Even though, the article was published earlier this year, it's so completely relevant. If infants and children receive good nutrition in their first three years (regularly), their health will be better than those that do not. You should definitely take a look at this article.

JOHANNESBURG, 1 February 2008 (IRIN) -
Eating nutritious food at an early age will not only ensure a source of income as an adult but also better pay, according to a study published in the current issue of The Lancet, a leading British medical journal.

The study, conducted in four villages in Guatemala, found that boys who received atole, a gruel made of skimmed milk powder, sugar and vegetable protein, in the first two years of life earned on average 46 percent higher wages as adults, while boys who received atole in their first three years earned 37 percent higher wages on average. Those who first received the supplement after age three did not gain any economic benefits as adults.

Children and infants aged under seven in two of the villages were given atole, while those in other two settlements were given a placebo drink until 1977.

The research is the first to show direct evidence of the effects of early childhood nutrition programmes on adult economic productivity and incomes, said John Hoddinott, lead author of The Lancet's article and a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

Until the Guatemala study, "substantial, but indirect, evidence from previous research suggested that providing infants and very young children with healthy, nutritious food is a long-term economic investment for developing countries," he told IRIN.

Follow the link to read the entire article.

IRIN Article: Maternity Health in Sierra Leone

The IRIN published an article today about the grim outlook of maternity health in Sierra Leone. As several of the JH kids' mothers have died from childbirth or the effects of childbirth, I thought this was pretty relevant. Sierra Leone has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the world. Please read prayerfully.

"Maternity Hospital is Last Resort"


FREETOWN, 12 March 2008 (IRIN) - Two babies and several gaunt women are the only patients in the gloomy wards of the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital in Freetown.

The hospital is supposed to be the main training and referrals unit for obstetrics in the country but its handful of staff were mostly found in backrooms, drinking tea with their feet resting on the surgical tables as they wile away their days in the eerily slow-moving wards.

“This hospital is a place of last resort for patients and staff,” said Sister Kanu, a nurse, who reckons conditions for mothers and hospital staff have “barely improved” since the end of Sierra Leone’s 11 year long civil war which devastated government and social infrastructure.

“By the time women get here it’s too late and the most we can do is to save the mother,” she said. “That’s why you see so few babies.”

See the link for the rest of the article (click here)

Save the Children: Kroo Bay

Save the Children, an organization based in the UK that aims to (as the name says) save children worldwide. They are working in one of the poorest slums in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. The website is excellent--there are webisodes and panoramic pictures of people in the community and community life. I highly recommend this website to learn about the challenges of living in a slum in Freetown (and most cities in developing countries) and of children in general.

https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/kroobay/index.php

Welcome to the JHM Blog!

Hello friends of Jonathan House!

Hopefully, you'll find this all helpful in learning more about Jonathan House, Sierra Leone and other "issues" people in Sierra Leone (for example) deal with. There will be a few updates taken from the email updates.

Thanks for your support for the kids and the ministries of Jonathan House! I urge you to continue to pray for the ministry! Maybe you'll find some new ways to pray.

Kim