HonourableMinisterJaipaul Sharma, Minister with the Ministry of Finance,
Honourable Minister Dr. Karen Cummings, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health,
Other representatives of the Government of Guyana,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Members of the UN Family, in particular our new Resident Coordinator Ms. Mikiko Tanaka,
Development Partners and Civil Society
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning
Today we reach an important milestone in our commitments to children in Guyana as we officially launch the5thMultiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) report for Guyana. The MICS is an international household survey initiative, developed by UNICEF, through which we assist countries in collecting and analysing data in order to monitor the situation of children and women. The findings of this report are significant, as they provide current data which will help us to better understand the issues affecting children and women in Guyana, and make informed decisions on the type and scope of interventions that can be undertaken to improve their situation.
As one of the key data sources generating data on equity, MICS plays an important role in tracking progress towards elimination of disparities and inequities.While UNICEF and partners work with governments to accelerate improvements in the lives of the most vulnerable, the MICS producesstatistically sound and internationally comparable estimates of a range of indicators in areas such as health, education, child protection, water and sanitation and HIV and AIDS.
The MICS5 thus provides a comprehensive picture of the situation of children and women in Guyana, and indicates existing disparities in the lives and well-being of children across regions, by gender, area of residence, wealth, and ethnicity. Data was collected in 2014 and reflects the situation at that time, and, we realize that there may have been some changes in the situation in Guyana, even in the short space of time between now and then.
While there will be a more detailed presentation, I’d like to share a few of the data right now with you. In the case of child survival,the report shows that the neonatal mortality rate isstill high at 23, while the post neo-natal mortality is 9. This means that the probabilityof a child dying within the first month of life is23 deaths per 1000 live births, while the probability of a child dying between the first month and her or his first birthday is 9 deaths per 1000 live births.
Statistics such as these show clearly that there is still work to be done to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to survive and thrive.Increasing coverage in child health interventions needs to be prioritized if we are to sustain progress made towards MDGs 4 and 5,so that no mother, newborn or child under-5 dies from causes that are easily avoidable.
We know through routine monitoring that Guyana has high vaccination rates for most of the vaccines, which is very encouraging. But the MICS reportshows that only 78 % of our children are fully immunised, while 22% have not received all their vaccinations. Those 22% usually miss out on one or two of the vaccines, and they are mostly girls and boysliving in regions 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10, thus punctuating the evident gap between urban/coastal areas and hinterland areas.
Confirming what is known as it pertains to Adolescent health,the MICSfound that the Adolescent birth rate for women age 15-19 years is at 74%.
The data also indicates that the percentage of young people age 15-19years currently married or in a union for women is 13.3 and for men 13.4. These figures could include both legal and common law unions, as is the case in some hinterland and rural communities.
The trends highlighted by MICS for adolescents are disturbing, and UNICEF advocates for young girls to delay early marriage and early child bearing, so that they are able to complete their education, and achieve their full potential. Both girls and boys need to have access to sexual and reproductive health services and information. They need to be protected and empowered to cope with the economic and social pressures that too often translate into a pregnancy, as well as poverty, poor health and the unrealized human potential that is often a consequence. Current data such as that generated by MICS 5, will help the Government to devise appropriate policies, systems, strategies and plans to address teen pregnancies, sexual and reproductive health among adolescents, including HIV prevention, and promote meaningful participation to reduce the inequities and vulnerabilities of adolescents, especially for those who live in poor urban and rural areas, and hinterland regions.
Guyana has benefited from new capacities, validated statistical systems and modernized statistical thinking and skills through the MICS programme. Moreover, through capacity strengthening workshops,we have worked directly with Bureau of Statistics, Ministries of Public Health and other government partners in the survey design, data processing and report writing phases.
This process has been supported technically and financially by the Ministries of Health and Finance, our sister UN agencies, theInter-American Development Bank, along with other ministries and agencies. And we are indeed pleased at the commitment and collaboration of all partners in bringing this journey to completion.
In the year 1990, nearly 160 heads of state and senior government officials committed to the UN World Summit for Children and pledged to monitor progress for children. The UN and in particular UNICEF were requested to provide statistical assistance to countries, to enable them to live up to that commitment. Today we can all be very proud that we have reached another milestone in Guyana with regards to that commitment.
Thank you