UPDATE SIERRA LEONEUnite for children

April - June 2014

UNICEF works to protect the community against EbolaBy Jo Dunlop, Communication Consultant

UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Health, WHO and other health partners to ght the rst ever outbreak of Ebola in Sierra Leone. The deadly virus was discovered in the country on 24 May 2014 in the eastern district of Kailahun. The country had been on Ebola alert since the disease

emerged in neighbouring Guinea two months earlier, soon spreading to Liberia and now across its borders into Sierra Leone.

As of 2 July 2014, the cumulative total of cases tested is 468, with 239 laboratory conrmed cases and 70 deaths.

“UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and other health partners to provide support to the medical response and s t reng then soc ia l mob i l i za t ion and communica t ion messages around prevention in an effort to reduce the spread of Ebola,” said UNICEF Representat ive Roeland Monasch.

“This is Sierra Leone's rst experience of Ebola therefore knowledge at community level is very low. It is critical that communi t ies rece ive the cor rec t information that will help protect people against the disease”, added Roeland.

Social mobilization and communication is a critical part of the response and a d d r e s s i n g t h e r u m o u r s a n d misinformation around Ebola is a priority. UNICEF is implementing a campaign that explains the disease and transmission, symptoms and prevention and the management of patients. Messages are being disseminated through posters, radio broadcasts, and jingles. Information on Ebola has also been disseminated through the house-to-house LLINs 'Hang up campaign' which targeted over 1 million households nationwide.

UNICEF has deployed staff to the districts of Kailahun, Kenema, Port Loko and Kambia who are providing technical and logistics support. UNICEF is also supporting the training of community volunteers for contact tracing and the training of Community Health Workers on Ebola.

Essential supplies such as gloves, aprons and goggles have been provided to protect front line health workers. “It is sad that the caregivers and health workers are most at risk during an outbreak of Ebola and providing them with adequate knowledge and protective equipment is the best way we can prevent them from contracting the disease“. said Roeland.

Treatment supplies including intravenous uids, chlorine, analgesics, antibiotics and body bags have also been sent to the affected areas.

Ebola is a deadly haemorrhagic fever that has no known cure or preventative vaccine with a 50-90% case fatality rate. It spreads through contact with body uids of infected people who have symptoms of the illness or animal carriers like fruit bats, primates, antelopes and porcupine. Cases that report early to treatment centers have a greater chance of survival

The Ebola response is being supported by the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), US Ofce of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Ofce and core UNICEF funding.

2April - June 2014

2014 Nationwide distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malariaBy Rosmarie E. K. Jah, Reports Officer, UNICEF Sierra Leone

Amidst high national child-mortality rates, malaria is the main killer of children under-ve in Sierra Leone. However, the high number of deaths in Sierra Leone due to malaria can, in most cases, be prevented.

Sleeping under long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs) is one of the most effective ways to prevent malaria. LLINs are nets with insecticide integrated into their bres; they remain effective against mosquitos for at least 3 years. They are the most powerful and cost-effective intervention for malaria control.

In essence all people in Sierra Leone, especially children and pregnant women, should always sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets.

To make this a reality, 3.5 million mosquito nets were successfully distributed all over Sierra Leone at the beginning of June; with special arrangements for the areas affected by the Ebola outbreak. This huge number of nets is required to cover the entire population. For the 2014 distribution, the Government, UNICEF and major development partners like UK Aid, the European Union, the United Methodist Church Committee On Relief (UMCOR), the Global Fund, World Vision, WHO and the World Bank joined hands to combat malaria.

The 2014 distribution is the second nationwide mosquito net campaign targeting all households in the Sierra Leone. In December 2010, the Government implemented its rst universal household coverage campaign that signicantly improved the overall access to, and utilization of LLINs.

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A mother receives help to hang her bed net under the shade of a tree so that it could be ready for use after 24 hours© UNICEF Sierra Leone/2014/Anderson

April - June 2014

After having reached a coverage of 87% in 2011, the 2013 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey indicated that the coverage had dropped to 66% of households having at least one net in 2013. The decrease of coverage three years after the 2010 universal household coverage campaign was to be expected, because ownership and utilization levels normally gradually decrease. Malaria experts therefore recommend a repetition of universal household coverage campaigns once every three to four years.

Providing a whole country with mosquito nets, as a strategy to control malaria, was a major logistical venture. This involved procuring and shipping of nets, clearing of over 150 containers with nets from the port and transportation to various warehouses and distribution points in the 12 districts and The Western Area in Sierra Leone.

“We had to ask ourselves the question, how to ensure that each household gets the right amount of mosquito nets”, said Roeland Monasch, UNICEF Country Representative. “To respond to this challenge, we devised teams of 4 people that went from house-to-house in the entire country. They issued vouchers for LLINs based on the number of people sleeping in a household. With the vouchers in hand, household members then collected their mosquito nets at the closest distribution point.”

The distribution was carried out during the biannual Maternal and Child Health Week from 5 to 11 June. The distribution of nets was streamlined with the provision of other essential health services for children, namely Vitamin A and deworming with Albendazole.

A “hang-up” campaign, from 19 to 29 June ensured that the mosquito nets are used in the right manner.

Bales of bed netsbeing offloadedat the Medical Storein Port Loko© UNICEF Sierra/2014/Stephen

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PREVENT MALARIAAlways sleep under insecticide-treated

BED NETS

UK from the British people

EUROPEAN UNION

April - June 2014

Motor bikes donation boosts birth registration in Sierra LeoneBy Issa Davies, Communication Officer, UNICEF Sierra Leone

In order to ensure that every child in Sierra Leone has his or her birth registered and is issued with a birth certicate, UNICEF, in June, donated 13 motorbikes to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to facilitate the movements of birth registration personnel in all the 12 districts of the country and The

Western Area.

In Sierra Leone, births registration is done at all the 1200 peripheral health units which are supported by 13 district ofces. With the introduction of the Free Health Care initiative in 2010, there has been a 30 per cent increase in birth registration rates – from 51 per cent in 2005 to 78 per cent in 2010. Despite this signicant progress, there are still many children who are unregistered at birth.

“A functioning birth registration system helps children access services such as health and education, and protects against child rights violations such as early marriage, illegal detention, early conscription in armed forces and trafcking”, said UNICEF Representative Roeland Monasch.

A three-year strategic plan (2012-2015) lays the path towards improving the birth registration system, including through technical support to government policymakers complemented by nancial and technical support to civil society partners.

“Birth registration fulls the rights of our children; a name and nationality validates their legal existence”, said Ms Miatta Kargbo, Minister of Health and Sanitation.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation, UNICEF and Plan International are at the same time working closely with the National Registration Secretariat in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the support of UNDP to align birth with civil registration services.

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Motorbikes ready for handover to the Government (left)(right) Minister of Health and Sanitation, Ms. Miatta Kargbo

signs the transfer documents in the presence of UNICEFRepresentative, Roeland Monasch and other Stakeholders

© UNICEF Sierra Leone/2014/Davies

April - June 2014

Third round of vaccine for girls to prevent cervical cancerBy Rosmarie E. K. Jah, Reports Officer, UNICEF Sierra Leone

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination presents a very good opportunity for public health in Sierra Leone. HPV, a sexually transmitted infection, is one of the core causes behind cervical cancer and 85% of cervical cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

In May 2014 the third round of the vaccination took place in Bo district, eastern Sierra Leone. This is as part of the demonstration project that aims to effectively vaccinate all 9 year old girls in Bo, with the three doses required for immunization. The HPV vaccine targets girls before they become sexually active. WHO recommends that the HPV vaccine should primarily be targeting at 9–13 year old girls. Due to large numbers of teenage pregnancies that point to early sexual activity in Sierra Leone, the focus is on girls who are 9 years old.

Activities around the vaccination involve the registration of eligible girls as well as active communication around the advantages of the vaccine.

In 2013, the Government of Sierra Leone together with UNICEF, WHO and with support of GAVI Alliance launched the two-year HPV demonstration project in Bo District. The rst two rounds of vaccination took place in September and November 2013. Following the third round in May 2014, the Government, the UN and health partners hope to scale-up the efforts by integrating the HPV vaccine into its national routine immunization programme.

"The positive impacts of the vaccine will only become apparent after many years", says UNICEF Country Representative Roeland Monasch, "however, it is important to act now and we are happy to support the Government in making this long term investment."

Dr. Nuhu, UNICEF Immunization Specialist in Sierra Leone, lends a hand to encourage the vaccination of a 9-year old girl in Bo © UNICEF Sierra Leone

6April - June 2014

Sierra Leone launches a four-year Child Justice StrategyBy Issa Davies, Communication Officer, UNICEF Sierra Leone

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's Affairs (MSWGCA) in collaboration with the

Justice Sector Coordination Ofce (JSCO) and UNICEF, in April, launched the Child Justice Strategy for 2014 – 2018 in Freetown.

The number of children accused of breaking the law in Sierra Leone has increased in recent years. Many children are held in remand with adults, and children whose cases go to court often wait months before their cases are nally dealt with. Children who have been victims of violence, abuse and exploitation are highly vulnerable and in need of special protection and support. However, the justice system is intended for adults, and the process can traumatise children.

The new Child Justice Strategy recognizes the challenges facing children in conict with the law as well as child victims and witnesses. The strategy provides a clear way forward to address a range of issues affecting children in contact with the law including preventing delinquency and abuse and improving the responsiveness of the formal justice system to the needs of children.

The Child Justice Strategy builds on the legal and policy framework in favour of children such as the Child Rights Act of 2007 and also replaces the 2006 Child Justice Strategy. It further builds on the previous strategy, which includes diverting children accused of minor infraction from the formal court setting reintegrating and rehabilitating children in conict with the law and enacting legal reform.

The highlights of the launch included the testimony of Blessing, who had been in conict with the law as a child and has been rehabilitated in his community. Blessing, an 18 year old boy in Freetown, was convicted of stealing a mobile phone from someone's car as he was cleaning it. He was sentenced to spend three years at the Approved School in Freetown, a rehabilitation centre for juvenile offenders.

"I lost my parents when I was very small and was placed in the care of my aunt who treated me badly and that forced me into the streets to do odd jobs for a living", Blessing recounted amidst sobs.

Even though Blessing was incarcerated, his educational aspirations remained undaunted. He was studying whilst in prison and took the Basic Education Certicate Examinations and passed with ying colours to gain admission into senior secondary school.

"Due to my success at the examinations coupled with good behaviour, I was released from detention before the end of my term", he added.

Blessing recounts his personalexperience with the childjustice system during the launch© UNICEF Sierra Leone/2014/Davies

7April - June 2014

He spent one year eight months instead of three years in detention. He is now in senior secondary school and is doing well in school.

"I want to be somebody with a good education who will be considered very important in society in the future", he added.

"Children in conict and contact with the law should be treated as children and not as adults", said Roeland Monasch, UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone. "This strategy marks a new chapter to better protect children who are in conict with the law or are victims of crimes. In addition to that there should be free medical care for victims of child justice. Children deserve no less!" The Child Justice Strategy was developed through a broad based participatory process involving key stakeholders at national and sub-national levels. The justice sector technical working group, which comprises the Judiciary, the Sierra Leone Police, Defence for Children International, Timap for Justice, Prison Watch, JSCO, MSWGCA and UNICEF took the lead to develop the strategy.

Through the strategy, the Government will ensure that children in conict and contact with the law have access to the formal and informal justice systems and are better served and protected by these systems.

Using SMART survey methods to improve nutritional status in communities: Implementing the 2014 National Nutrition SurveyBy Jo Dunlop, Communication Consultant

Stunting and acute malnutrition continue to be a major contributing factor to child mortality, disease and disability in Sierra Leone. UNICEF is working closely with the Directorate of Food and Nutrition in the Ministry of Health & Sanitation and the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) secretariat housed in the

Vice President's Ofce with the aim to scale up cost-effective, evidence based interventions that improve nutrition during the rst 1,000 days between pregnancy and the child's second birthday.

An important requirement to assess the impact of the SUN initiative and the national nutrition programme is a robust monitoring and evaluation system that can be used to improve real-time programme implementation and demonstrate impact. Under nutrition is assessed by measuring height and weight and screening for clinical manifestations and biochemical markers. Indicators based on weight, height and age are compared to international standards and are most commonly used to assess the nutritional status of a population. For example, stunting (inadequate length/height for age) captures early chronic exposure to undernutrition; wasting (inadequate weight for height) captures acute undernutrition; underweight (inadequate weight for age) is a composite indicator that includes elements of stunting and wasting.

UNICEF is supporting the Directorate of Food and Nutrition in the implementation of the 2014 National Nutrition Survey using the Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART) protocol.

The rst SMART survey was implemented in 2010. Data collection for this second SMART survey commenced in June 2014. The report is expected to be complete in September 2014.

For more information on improving child nutrition go to:http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Nutrition_Report_final_lo_res_8_April.pdf

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A convalescing child from malnutrition enjoys eating the

plumpy nuts as her mother smiles happily © UNICEF Sierra Leone

April - June 2014

Early Grade Assessments: improving Basic Education in Sierra Leone By Charlris Okafor, Communication Officer, UNICEF Sierra Leone

The end of Sierra Leone's decade-long war in 2002, was followed by period of peace and a stability resulting in democratic elections in 2012. One of the most important results of this period has been a tremendous growth in the number of children being enrolled in primary school where basic

education is free for all. In spite of the fact that many more children attend school and complete a full cycle of primary education educational outcomes are still very low and the available evidence suggest that children completing primary school may not be literate or numerate. In the midst of overcrowded classes, scarcity of school

books and untrained teachers, 16 per cent of children repeat a year of primary school every year.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) has turned its attention to improving the teaching of early grade reading and maths. Supported by UNICEF and Montrose International, MEST has conducted the rst round of a national Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Mathematics Assessment (EGMA).

The EGRA/EGMA aims to improve learning outcomes and reduce repetition rates in all schools by increasing school effectiveness and the opportunity to learn. Teams of enumerators were trained and later conducted the assessment among primary school pupils in class 2 and class 4 in a total of130 primary schools in all 12 districts of Sierra Leone and The Western Area.

In each school a team observed a class in session without interrupting. One of the team members would also interview the head teacher on enrolment; number of

teachers who have undergone teacher training; teacher and pupil attendance and the relationship between the school and community structures like the School Management Committee and the Mothers Clubs.

The assessment also entailed assessing the reading and numeracy skills of classes 2 and 4. Five pupils were randomly chosen out of 25 and were asked questions to test their reading capability and their numeracy skills.

The ndings of this rst round of the assessment will serve to improve the effectiveness of the primary education system and support the achievement of the goals set out by the MEST Education Sector Plan and the Government of Sierra Leone Agenda for Prosperity.

The EGRA/EGMA assessment is part of the UK Aid Government Department for International Development's (DFID) Improving Schooling in Sierra Leone Programme (ISIS), which is being partly managed by UNICEF Sierra Leone.

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A father gives support to his child’s education© UNICEF Sierra Leone

April - June 2014

Sierra Leone Develops New Basic Education Curriculum By Issa Davies, Communication Officer, UNICEF Sierra Leone

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) in collaboration with UNICEF and other stakeholders in education, are in the process of developing a new Basic

Education Curriculum for Sierra Leone.

Access to education has improved signicantly over the years. The Primary Net Enrolment Rate is around 75%. However, there are still too many school-age children in Sierra Leone who are out of school. Similarly more needs to be done to improve the quality of basic education. Progress has been made, but learning is still narrowly focused and learners rely mainly on “memorization and recall” for success. There is a need to shift to a learner-centred pedagogy which goes beyond recall learning to stress understanding, valuing and doing, linking prescribed learning with assessment methodology and pedagogy. It is in this context that MEST is facilitating an on-going education reform process that includes a new basic education curriculum for the country.

The new curriculum will not simply be a collection of subjects to be taught in schools. It should more importantly reect national development vision and goals, as well as capture the hopes and aspirations of learners and their parents or communities. Key priorities for the new curriculum will be (i) cultivating talents and fullling aspirations; (ii) nurturing a problem-solving culture; (iii) promoting peacebuilding and political stability; and (iv) addressing emerging issues – including food security, teenage pregnancy, human resource development, inclusive growth & wealth distribution, improved career guidance, technology/ICT literacy as well as nancial literacy.

As rst step of the curriculum development process, the MEST with support from UNICEF and Redi4Change have developed a national curriculum framework and guidelines for basic education. This framework aides practitioners responsible for designing, implementing and managing the new curriculum in Sierra Leone and should ensure the curriculum is developed in a participatory way engaging education specialists, teachers, parents and the general public.

The Peace Building for Education and Advocacy (PBEA) in the Netherlands is funding this initiative.

In 2014 UNICEF Sierra Leone received contributions from:

The Governments of Canada, Ireland, Japan,Netherlands, Norway,

United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and USA

The European Union, United Nations, African Development Bank,

GAVI Alliance, Global Fund against AIDS/TB/Malaria, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Micronutrient Initiative, United Nations Foundation, IKEA Foundation, CERF and OFDA

UNICEF National Committee of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and USA

For more information, please contact:Issa DaviesCommunication Officer, External Relations,Advocacy and Leveraging Resources, UNICEFSierra Leone

Telephone: +232 22 235 730/735Mobile: +232 76 601310Facsimile: +232 22 235 059E-mail: idavies@unicef.org

URL: http//www.unicef.orgwww.facebook.com/unicefsierraleonewww.youtube.com/user/UNICEFSLFollow us on twitter:@UNICEFSL

A disabled school boy happily plays with his friend

© UNICEF Sierra Leone/Douglass

April - June 2014