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UNICEF Emergency Response Office in Slovakia
https://www.unicef.org/eca/unicef-emergency-response-office-slovakia
Context Although Slovakia grants "urgent and necessary health services" for Ukrainian citizens registered for Temporary Protection, many Ukrainians face challenges in accessing support. What is "urgent and necessary," however, is often left to the judgment of individual doctors, creating a situation in which quality of health care received by refugees can vary significantly. Ukrainian children tend to have significantly lower vaccination rates compared to Slovaks and front-line health workers are not trained to deal with vaccine hesitancy. The key challenge in the mid-long term is the management of chronic diseases, control and management of infectious and communicable disease, and provision of specialized mental health services and psychological support. In addition, there is a shortage of doctors, particularly pediatricians and nurses, with some regions being underserved even before the crisis. Under the existing legislation, Ukrainian health workers can provide services only under the direct supervision of a senior Slovak health worker, due to the shorter academic curriculum and mandated training required for doctors in Ukraine. UNI396419 UNI396419 UNI396419 UNI396419 UNICEF's Response Support to recognition of qualifications of Ukrainian health workers is one of four areas of cooperation between UNICEF and the Ministry of Health, in addition to immunization and early childhood development, specialized mental health support, as well as health promotion and health education, including through parenting programmes. In collaboration with the Regional Health Authority in Bratislava, UNICEF supports the provision of primary healthcare services in the Bratislava region, hosting over 30,000 refugees, including more than 12,000 children. Services are provided by two general practitioners, two pediatricians, one gynecologist, and one psychiatrist under the supervision of a senior Slovak doctor. Pediatricians and breastfeeding counselors are integrated into the Blue Dots in Bratislava, Košice and Michalovce. UNI396390 UNI396390 UNI396390 UNI396390 Since 15 July 2022, primary healthcare services have been provided to over 43,000 children and women through UNICEF-supported mechanisms, including consultations for mental health, referrals to higher levels of care, and vaccination of children against measles, polio, and so on.
Vaccination campaign targeting Ukrainian refugees in Czech Republic launched today
https://www.unicef.org/eca/press-releases/vaccination-campaign-targeting-ukrainian-refugees-czech-republic-launched-today
A campaign to drive uptake of routine and COVID-19 vaccination among Ukrainian refugees and the Ukrainian community was launched today in Brno, Czech Republic, by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF. "This campaign builds upon the success of the previous one, which reached half a milion people with COVID-19 vaccination, including 420,000 people with a second booster dose. This time, we are focusing on the Ukrainian community in the Czech Republic because of the low vaccination coverage against measles and polio among Ukrainian children. By joining hands with UNICEF, we wish to tackle the spread of misinformation with practical and reliable information on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines," said Czech Health Minister Vlastimil Válek. "Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases. Since the start of the war, Ukraine has faced widespread disruption to healthcare services, including childhood and COVID-19 immunization programmes. The Czech Republic welcomed 140,000 Ukrainian refugee children this year. We need to make sure they all have access to basic health services, including vaccination. UNICEF is pleased to play a key role, alongside the Ministry of Health, in improving vaccination coverage and build trust in vaccines through the provision of information in Ukrainian ," said Yulia Oleinik, Head of UNICEF Refugee Response Office in the Czech Republic. UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Health with campaign content and microsite, and ensuring a wide reach of campaign messages. The microsite will provide useful and verfied information such as history of immunisation, data, practical tips and recommendations for preventing and treating diseases, as well as a map of vaccination sites across the country. The microsite will go live in December, while a Ukrainian language helpline is already accessible by dialling +420226201221. 1 UNICEF
UNICEF Emergency Response Office in Poland
https://www.unicef.org/eca/poland
The situation Of the 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees registered by the Polish government, around 90 per cent are women and children. This mother-and-child displacement crisis is exerting extraordinary pressure on Poland's public services, especially in healthcare given the specific needs of mothers, children and newborns. It's vital those who've fled this brutal war have access to health care, including immunizations, advice on feeding their babies and young children, and mental health and psychosocial support. Low immunization rates in Ukraine mean that refugees are at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. Before the war Ukraine was already at a high risk of a polio outbreak, with only 55 per cent of Ukrainian children vaccinated against the disease. Meanwhile, low coverage of the measles vaccination, currently at 78 per cent, led to Ukraine having 47,000 measles cases in 2018, the largest outbreak in Europe. Children should be protected from vaccine preventable diseases no matter where they live. UNICEF/UN0705564/Strek UN0705564 UNICEF/UN0705564/Strek UN0705564 In emergencies, supporting the survival and development of children, especially newborns, becomes more challenging. More than 2,500 Ukrainian newborns have been delivered in Polish hospitals since the beginning of the crisis and they are a particularly at-risk group. Exclusive breastfeeding can prevent nearly 20 per cent of under-five child deaths, however less than 20 per cent of Ukrainian infants aged 0 to 5 months are exclusively breastfed. Those exposed to conflict, especially children, can suffer severe psychological consequences. Not addressing mental health issues can stall a child's development and stop them participating meaningfully in society. Mental health and psychological support is therefore vital to help families heal from their invisible wounds of war. "Our husbands stayed behind. Our children are nervous; they shake and are scared because of what they have seen and heard. Children should never see such things. They should never be in a war." Alona from Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Mother now in Łodz, Poland with her children. The solution UNICEF's Emergency Response Office in Poland is focused on preventing disease outbreaks, helping refugees gain access to health care and promoting exclusive breastfeeding. Vaccinations are essential to protecting both Ukrainian and Polish children and families against preventable diseases. UNICEF is promoting the safety of immunization and its importance to children's health in Poland and ensuring there are sufficient supplies of critical vaccinations. So far, UNICEF has procured 50,000 polio and 5,000 Hepatitis A vaccines, as well as 50,000 syringes to support vaccination campaigns. We're currently sourcing extra doses of BCG, Hepatitis B and MMR vaccines. "I believe that vaccination is important for children, for the entire population of the country. I think even during the war, we shouldn't stop, because dangerous diseases are still nearby." Kateryna, mother of two from Kiyv region, now living in Poland. Safe water and sanitation is also crucial to preventing diseases like diarrhoea and cholera, which can be deadly. Since the early days of the crisis, UNICEF has been distributing WASH and dignity kits, which include basics like soap, and water containers. We're also partnering with the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health on disease surveillance so we can respond immediately to prevent outbreaks. UNICEF/UN0647603/Korta UN0647603 UNICEF/UN0647603/Korta UN0647603 Linking refugees to health care is another priority and we're working hard to provide families with both the information they need as well as access to appropriate services. We're particularly focused on reaching children with disabilities and mothers and children in need of mental health support. We're also providing health kits with essential medicines and medical devices to Polish clinics, to help ensure they have enough supplies to treat the large numbers of new patients. Finally, we're encouraging mothers to exclusively breastfeed and sharing knowledge on how best to feed their babies and young children as they adapt to life in a new country. Trainings on exclusive breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding are being rolled out to 500 health workers in hospitals and 120 staff working in Blue Dot support hubs and we're establishing lactation groups in 10 maternity wards. UNICEF will also partner with the Ministry of Health to control the distribution of formula to make sure it is safe for babies.
Frontline social workers provide vital support to improve health
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/frontline-social-workers-provide-vital-support-improve-health
Yura has been a social worker for many years. "When I started working in social services, I was mainly interested in family therapy," she says . "In time, I found out that supporting communities to become resilient and self-reliant is an extremely rewarding experience." A year ago, she joined the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (CRWB) – a civil society organization created in 2003 to support the integration of refugees and migrants. "Guiding through people from refugee and migrant backgrounds on health-related procedures in their host country is a way to empower them to find solutions to health issues," explains Yura. And this is particularly vital for those fleeing from armed conflicts and humanitarian crises. As they search for safety and better life opportunities, both adults and children go through many traumatic experiences as a result of often prolonged stays in refugee camps, limited access to health care, and the dangers they face as they travel through volatile areas. By the time they finally reach a safe destination, they are often in very bad physical and psychological shape. "In Bulgaria, refugee children arrive with their parents or – in some cases – unaccompanied. Psychological problems, infectious diseases, medically unobserved pregnancies and, in particular, a lack of immunization, are common problems that have a negative impact on their health and wellbeing." Radostina Belcheva, Project Coordinator and Deputy-Chair of CRWB The CRWB partners with UNICEF Bulgaria to provide general health checks and referrals, as well as life-saving vaccines in line with children's immunization schedules, and equips parents with information on health risks, entitlements and how to access medical services. "As part of the 'Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South-Eastern Europe' (RM Child-Health) project co-funded by the European Union's Health Programme, we work with our partners to ensure that children can follow immunization plans and that their vaccination status is updated in their immunization documents. These are crucial steps in ensuring good health . " Diana Yovcheva, Programme Officer with UNICEF Bulgaria Working directly with refugees, Yura consults families that want to access health services. "Some cases are easier than others", she says, recalling a consultation with Ahmed*, a 45-year-old father of six children, who fled Syria in 2020 and received humanitarian status in Bulgaria. A chef by profession, Ahmed settled quite well in the host country, found a job in a restaurant and, after some time, managed to reunite with his wife, his four sons and two daughters. "Ahmed was referred to the CRWB by friends and he came in for a consultation on the immunization process with his youngest baby girl, Yasmina, only one year old" explains Yura. During their meeting, the social worker provided information about the health system in Bulgaria, the role of a general practitioner, and how people with refugee status can access medical services including vaccinations for their children. Although Ahmed's baby girl had been vaccinated before her arrival in Bulgaria and had an immunization passport, the father urgently needed to update her vaccination status to synchronize her vaccinations with the recommendations of the national immunization calendar. "I contacted the Regional Health Inspectorate and helped Ahmed to provide the necessary documents and find a translator, as the documents were in Turkish", says Yura. Subsequently, she helped Ahmed schedule an appointment with a medical doctor and Yasmina received her next vaccine. Parents often lack the necessary vaccination documents. According to Yura, "Sometimes children have not had any vaccinations, or they have been vaccinated in their country of origin, but their immunization cards have been lost or destroyed." Such cases require additional consultations, research and coordination, as well as testing for antibodies and immune responses when it is not clear whether the child has been vaccinated. "By empowering parents to familiarize themselves with the immunization plans and procedures we help them become proactive in following up on their children's health." Yura, Social worker To address the COVID-19 restrictions and keep active communication with refugees and migrants, the CRWB and UNICEF developed leaflets in Bulgarian, Arabic and Farsi with details about the health system in Bulgaria and the importance of vaccinations, and regularly provide health-related information via social media. "The role of communication in immunization is essential. Our frontline staff interact on a daily basis with beneficiaries, but we have also used other means [such as a Facebook group dedicated to health-related topics] to keep the information flow going, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic . " Radostina Belcheva, Project Coordinator and Deputy-Chair of CRWB Logo - Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe This story is part of the Project Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe, co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the 'RM Child-Health' initiative). The content of this story represents the views of the author only and is her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains .
Mainstreaming what works: EU and UNICEF strengthen health capacity for refugee and migrant children
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/mainstreaming-what-works-eu-and-unicef-strengthen-health-capacity-refugee-and-migrant
"Very often we have the feeling that this space functions as a container for the absorption of negative emotions of the people who visit us. People who come here often feel safe enough to share their fears, their frustrations and even their darker thoughts. We try to give them space to express their feelings and we always find ways to boost their morale." A Coordinator from METAdrasi on the importance of the Mother and Child Space for refugee and migrant At the ADRA community centre for migrant mothers and babies, Belgrade, Serbia At the ADRA community centre for migrant mothers and babies, Belgrade, Serbia The 'RM Child-Health' initiative has worked with UNICEF and its partners over the past year to strengthen national health systems in five European countries so they can meet the needs of refugee and migrant children. The initiative recognizes that a strong health system delivers for every vulnerable child. It is also a system that looks beyond physical health care to address mental and emotional wellbeing and wider issues, such as gender-based violence. Strong health systems are vital to ease the bottlenecks that confront refugee and migrant families when they try to access health care. All too often, their attempts to claim their right to health services are hampered by language barriers, bureaucracy and discrimination. In Bulgaria, for example, where national immunization rates are already below the European average, refugee and migrant children are three times less likely to be vaccinated than other children. The challenges Refugee and migrant children often have complex health needs, which may go far beyond poor physical health. Migration has a negative impact, for example, on their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. And that impact is intensified by poor living conditions, a lack of supportive social networks and social integration and, all too often, hostility from host communities. Many parents and caregivers, faced with barriers to health care and other basic services, as well as a lack of control over their own destiny, face real distress, and this can undermine their ability to meet the physical and emotional needs of their children at a critical point in their development. Gender-based violence (GBV) is another – and particularly harsh – challenge that affects many refugee and migrant children and young people. A chronic lack of child-friendly health information and durable solutions has heightened the risks of GBV, sexually transmitted diseases and early pregnancies, and the devastating consequences of all three for mental health. The response
Empowering refugee and migrant children to claim their right to health: Improving health literacy
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/empowering-refugee-and-migrant-children-claim-their-right-health-improving-health-literacy
"I have always had to behave 'like a girl' and I am not used to being asked for my opinion, but you ask me to say what I think during these workshops." A 13-year-old girl from Syria describes the impact of empowerment workshops in Serbia Boy is drawing a picture. UNICEF-supported activities for children on the island of Lesvos, Greece The 'RM Child-Health' initiative has supported work across five European countries to improve health literacy among refugee and migrant children over the past year. As a result, they and their families have learned about key health issues, about the health services available to them, and how to demand health services as their right. Through its support for health literacy – the ability to find, understand and use information to take care of your own health – the initiative has helped to dismantle some key barriers to health services for refugee and migrant children and their families in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Serbia. This 27-month, €4.3 million co-funded initiative, which was launched in January 2020 by the European Union Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, works alongside young refugees and migrants to ensure that they have accurate health information in their own languages – information that reaches them via the channels they use and the people they trust. Importantly, the initiative makes them more aware of their right to health care in these European countries – welcome news for those who have fled from countries where good quality health care is either unaffordable or unavailable. With support from the initiative, UNICEF and its partners first worked with young refugees and migrants to identify gaps in the information available to them and in their own knowledge. This informed the health literacy packages that have been rolled out in all five countries over the past year, spanning a wide range of topics from immunization and nutrition to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV). The packages themselves have been backed by detailed plans to ensure that their messages reach their audiences and gain real traction. Great care has been taken to ensure that information materials are culturally appropriate, gender sensitive and child-friendly, and that they are suitable for the ages and backgrounds of their audiences. Cultural mediators and interpreters have helped to overcome language and cultural barriers, while materials have been made available in, for example, Arabic, Farsi and Pashto. Activities have often been led by trusted professionals, such as nurses, physicians and psychologists who are already familiar with the needs of refugee and migrant children and their families. Materials have been shared through channels and locations that are well-used by refugees and migrants, including asylum offices, temporary reception centres, health centres, Mother and Baby Corners (MBCs), workshops and discussion sessions, during outreach activities and via social media. As a result, health literacy is now embedded into existing activities with refugee and migrant children and parents across all five countries, and is based firmly on their views and needs. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, information workshops have been tailored to the needs of different groups of children, including those who are unaccompanied and separated. Topics over the past year have included personal and oral hygiene, drug and alcohol use and its impact on health, the importance of immunization, early childhood development, medical referrals and the proper use of medicines and the risks of self-medication, as well as COVID-19 risks and prevention and services for those with symptoms. Health literacy on immunization, for example, has been strengthened through close cooperation with the Institutes for Public Health and local primary health centres, helping to ensure that refugees and migrants are aware of the national immunization calendar and protocols. In all, 1,428 refugee and migrant children and their parents have received vital information on immunization, 840 have received information on mental health and psycho-social services, and 580 (nearly double the target) have received information on maternal and child health care and nutrition. In Bulgaria, the initiative has supported group sessions that have exceeded their targets, with 99 sessions held for refugee children and mothers – more than three times the 28 sessions envisaged. There were more than twice as many information sessions on gender-based violence as originally planned: 107 rather than 48. In all, 600 refugee and migrant children and their parents have received information on immunization, 600 on mental health and psycho-social services, and 600 on maternal and child health, with every target for these areas met or surpassed in terms of the numbers of children reached. "Guiding people from refugee and migrant backgrounds on health-related procedures in their host country is a way to empower them to find solutions to health issues." Yura, a social worker with the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (CRWB) In Greece, support from the initiative has enabled UNICEF and its partners to equip refugee and migrant children with information on health risks, entitlements and services through its non-formal education programme in urban areas and on the islands. In the first full year of the initiative, 1,796 children and 464 parents have received crucial information to help them safeguard their own health. In addition, information on mental health risks, entitlements and services has been shared with 587 refugee and migrant children on Lesvos through existing psychosocial support activities at the Child and Family Support Hub (CFSH), including counselling, information sessions, parent sessions and more. Refugee and migrant women and children using the UNICEF-supported Safe Space in Athens and the CFSH on Lesvos have had access to information on GBV, with 1,313 women and 687 children reached to date. Another 1,183 mothers and 596 children have received information on maternal and child health via the CFSH on Lesvos and at child-friendly spaces within the Asylum Service Offices in Athens and Thessaloniki. In Italy, there has been an emphasis on peer-to-peer health literacy over the past year. Young refugees and migrants have shared critical health messages through, for example, the U-Report on the Move platform – a user-friendly, cost-effective and anonymous digital platform with more than 6,000 subscribers, where they speak out on the issues that matter to them. Brochures on immunization, mental health and GBV have been translated into seven languages, and a live chat on reproductive health and the concept of 'consent' has been conducted in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 'Q&A' publications have provided clear answers to burning questions on immunization, mental health and GBV, with short videos explaining, for example, what to do if someone you know has been subjected to violence, and how to protect yourself from online abuse. In the first full year of the 'RM Child-Health' initiative, more than 10,887 refugees and migrants in Italy have benefited from critical information on health-related risks and services. The health literacy package supported by the initiative is being shared beyond refugee and migrant communities to reach local communities and key stakeholders, with human interest stories aiming to increase public awareness of the lives of refugees and migrants. The initiative's targets for health literacy in Serbia have also been exceeded, with 1,094 refugee and migrant children and parents receiving information on mental health (original target: 500) and 722 receiving information on GBV (original target: 600). Looking beyond the sheer numbers of beneficiaries, those taking part in health literacy workshops, in particular, have voiced their appreciation. One woman from Syria who took part in a GBV workshop commented: "I think that women, especially in our culture, do not recognize violence because they think it's normal for men to be louder, to yell, that they have the right to have all their whims fulfilled even if their wife wants or needs something different. It is a form of inequality we are used to. That is why it is important to talk about it, as you do, to have more workshops on these topics with women from our culture, so that we realize we should not put up with anything that is against our will or that harms us and our health." Another woman from Syria, who participated in a workshop on mental health and psychosocial support, said: "If it weren't for these workshops you're organizing, our stay in the camp would be so gloomy. I notice that women are in a much better mood and smiling during the workshops, more than in our spare time. You have a positive impact on us." Materials have been available in six languages and have covered access to health services, mental health issues, GBV, breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding, breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, recommendations for parents of children aged 1-6 months, recommendations for children aged 7-24 months, and substance abuse. To reach key stakeholders beyond refugee and migrant communities, a project information sheet and human-interest stories have been widely shared via social media and other well-used channels. Work is now underway in Serbia, with support from the 'RM Child-Health' initiative, to develop a new information package and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence against boys. This will be rolled out in 2021 in close partnership with key actors in child protection, including those who work directly with boys from refugee and migrant communities. The first full year of support from the 'RM Child-Health' initiative shows what can be achieved when refugee and migrant children, women and parents are all treated as champions for their own health, rather than the passive recipients of health care. Once equipped with the right information, including the knowledge of their fundamental right to health services, they are more likely to demand the health care to which they are entitled. Logo - Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe This story is part of the Project 'Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe', co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the 'RM Child-Health' initiative). It represents the views of the author only and is her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.
A Mother and baby corner - a place of health and serenity
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/mother-and-baby-corner-place-health-and-serenity
Belgrade, Serbia, 18 December 2020 – Sharife Yusufi is a mother of four. Her oldest child is already a teenager. Her youngest son is eighteen months old and has two names – Shahir, a reminder of his native Afghanistan, and Milos, in gratitude to the doctor who, at the Centre for refugees and migrants near Bela Palanka in south-eastern Serbia, helped take care of Shahir Milos, who was born with congenital heart disease. "I raised my first three children in our house in Afghanistan, in a different setting," recalls 36-year-old Sharife. "Milos was born at a Reception centre, here in Serbia. We have been changing addresses ever since. We are currently staying at the Asylum centre in Belgrade. These are all difficult circumstances, where I, as a mother, don't set the rules. And I find it very difficult." Mother with a baby Sharife and her son Shahir Milos in the mother and baby corner in Belgrade, Serbia. That's why Sharife is happy every time she visits the Mother and baby corner. The nearby Community centre, run by the humanitarian organization ADRA, houses just such a mother and baby corner, whose work is supported by UNICEF through the project 'Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South-Eastern Europe', co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the 'RM Child-Health' initiative). Here, mothers can spend time in a safe space for women, change their babies' clothes and nappies, access hygiene items for their children, breastfeed in privacy and put their children down for naps, as well as participate in workshops. And most importantly, because they are living in challenging circumstances, they can talk to a doctor about the nutrition, hygiene and early childhood development and immunization of their small child, but also about their own health and the health of older children. This is particularly crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Milos is learning through play in the Mother and baby corner. Milos is learning through play in the Mother and baby corner. The first piece of advice that mothers receive in the Mother and baby corner is always about breastfeeding – a source of food that is always available, hygienically safe and nutritious, and which boosts a child's immunity. "Breast milk provides all the nutrients a baby needs, but it also stimulates development [and] develops immunity. It helps the child to calm down, sleep better and be settled. This also helps me be calm," explains Sharife with a smile on her face. Sharife is an experienced mother. Even so, she is very grateful for the advice she has received from the doctor at the Mother and baby corner. When Milos was six months old, she introduced solid food into his diet, while she continued to breastfeed. She recalls that Milos's first solid food was rice cereal, and then later on vegetables, fruits and meat. The Mother and baby corner is a safe space where Milos and his mother can spend quality time together. The Mother and baby corner is a safe space where Milos and his mother can spend quality time together. "Milos likes best the carrot and apple puree I make for his snack," explains Sharife. The needs of refugee and migrant women, according to social worker Andja Petrovic, have shaped the development of ADRA's Community centre, where they would, as a rule of thumb, almost always come with their children. In order for women to be able to attend creative, recreational and educational workshops at the Women's centre, they needed a Child-friendly space for older children and a Mother and baby corner for women with infants. These spaces make it possible for mothers to participate in language classes, sports activities, creative workshops and, most importantly, in workshops about women's health and rights, while their children are taken care of and safe. In these challenging times, mothers really appreciate the chance to talk to a doctor about the health status of their children. "The most important thing is that all the advice from our doctor is in line with their economic circumstances and current living situation [in Reception centres]," explains Andja. "The advice is tailored to their life and I think they particularly like that, because they can see that their situation is acknowledged. Because when they go to a doctor [in other facilities], they get advice that they can't follow because they don't have the [living] conditions for that." Dr Zivica Lukic explains that she talks to mothers mostly about nutrition, hygiene and how to respond to their babies' needs. "We support mothers to establish and maintain breastfeeding, as it has not only economic benefits, but for mothers it also has emotional and physical ones. We know how healthy breastfeeding is for the child, but it is equally healthy for the mother, because it soothes and creates a strong bond between mother and child. When the baby is six months old, it's necessary to introduce solid foods. I advise [the introduction of] vegetables that can be pureed well, such as potatoes and carrots, [as well as] rice." Social worker Andja describes Sharife as a dedicated mother, who gladly takes advice about her child's early development. From nutrition and hygiene to regular vaccination and learning through play which stimulates child development. "Milos is an irresistible child and Sharife is a dedicated mother. She has other children who are great students, who are willing to learn and develop despite the difficult situation they are in. Milos has someone to look up to. And we are doing what we can to help." The bright young boy with big black eyes with two names can now communicate in three languages. Mostly in his native Persian, but also a little in English and Serbian. He is also learning about colours and shapes and is growing up to be a very creative child. His mother is visibly proud and happy when she watches him cheerfully wave and send her kisses. For Sharife and Milos, the Mother and baby corner is a safe space: a place of serenity. This story is part of the Project 'Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe', Co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the 'RM Child-Health' initiative). Logo The content of this article represents the views of the author(s) only and is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.
Inside the journey of Ukrainian refugee children and families
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/inside-journey-ukrainian-refugee-children-and-families
In the past three weeks Moldova's southern border has seen crowds that one could hardly imagine here even several weeks ago. With thousands waiting to flee war-torn Ukraine, the life of both communities has changed irremediably. Armed violence has not spared civilians for weeks and millions of Ukrainian families were forced to leave their homes in a matter of days or, in some instances, hours. Now they are arriving in Moldova and neighbouring countries in pursuit of safety. Since the first day of the war waged against Ukraine, UNICEF's teams have been on the ground, providing life-saving aid to the most vulnerable children both in Ukraine and outside of its borders. Together with a group of first-responders in Moldova, I arrived at the border crossing point of Palanca that has already seen thousands of Ukrainians seeking refuge in the past weeks. The first thing that catches your eye as you look at the people traveling through Palanca is that there are almost no men among them. The vast majority of those fleeing the hostilities in Ukraine are women and children as men between 18 to 60 are banned from leaving the country. According to UNICEF's estimates, at least one child is crossing Ukraine's border every single minute. The total number of children seeking asylum in Moldova and the European Union has already gone beyond 1.5 million. As for those children who have been displaced within Ukraine, a comprehensive count could not be done yet due to the rapidly changing situation. The second observation that you can hardly miss at Palanca is the profound exhaustion on the faces of those who walk across the border. Many women and children we meet started traveling days ago. Roads, trains, buses, queues, shelters – families lost the count of those on the way to Palanca. The journey's logistical hardships are coupled with many dangers, ranging from gunfire to air strikes. Ukrainian refugees, some with children, arrive at the Palanca border crossing in Moldova Ukrainian refugees, some with children, arrive on March 08, 2022 at the Palanca border crossing in Moldova, on the Moldova-Ukraine border after they fled war in their country. Once they reach the crossing point, families have yet to face another challenge. In the bitter cold, children and their mothers form lines stretching many kilometres away from the border. There are two separate queues. The first one, for cars, is so long that some mistakenly confuse it for a traffic jam on the way. The second one, for pedestrians, is somewhat shorter, although probably more exhausting. Mothers are clutching their children and hurriedly packed suitcases – the only remnants of their safe, pre-war lives. Some are trundling pushchairs or prams; others have three or even four children to look after. After crossing the border, Ukrainian mothers and children receive, along with long-awaited safety, an immediate aid from the Moldovan government, working together with UNICEF. Welcomed at Blue Dots placed by UNICEF along the road, families get what some of them described as "a much-needed moment to breathe". Designed to provide a safe space for children and their families, the Blue Dots offer mothers and children vital services, play, protection and counselling in a single location. As mothers crossed the border, I could hear them say: "Hold my hand, hold my hand. Whatever you do, do not let go of my hand!". What would seem a generic comment in any other circumstances was truly essential in this context. In the past three weeks, UNICEF has received many reports about missing or unaccompanied children traveling through Ukraine and across its western borders. We now work with the Moldovan government to increase the capacity of their social protection systems to screen, track and account for unaccompanied children. They then attempt reuniting the children with their families or provide temporary protection to shield them from risks of trafficking and abuse. The Blue Dots serve as a platform to identify unaccompanied children, as trained workers activate a screening mechanism during the art programme held at these safe spaces. In less than three weeks, Moldova has welcomed 200,000 refugees. It is at least half the size of the population of the country's capital, Chisinau.The others opt to continue traveling to Romania or further into the European Union. Regardless of their choice, asylum seekers can receive immediate support from the local authorities in Moldova, including food, lodging and transportation. A child therapist and social worker assists families at a UNICEF-UNHCR Blue Dot centre A child therapist and social worker (right) assists families on March 16, 2022 at a UNICEF-UNHCR Blue Dot centre at a refugee reception centre close to the Palanca border crossing in Moldova, near the Moldova-Ukraine border. The Moldovan government has built more than one effective partnership to house Ukrainian mothers and children: both local hotels and university dorms have opened their doors. Many others are hosted in temporary shelters: theatres, gyms, sports stadiums, basketball courts and many other premises have been rapidly turned into accommodation. MoldExpo Exhibition Center, a location for trade fairs, has also found a new purpose. Structured cubicles used for commercial events have become tiny homes with beds, mattresses and pillows for the centre's new residents. As our team arrived at the MoldExpo Exhibition Center, we immediately noticed the difference between the atmosphere here and at Palanca. Most of the families seemed calm and rested. They now had access to hot meals, electricity and running water. With a variety of food available in the centre's kitchen areas, one would also assume that nutrition is no longer a concern. However, for many mothers with small children, finding the right nutrients, continuing breastfeeding or preventing infants' diarrhoea remains a challenge. Another invisible danger that looms in almost every collective centre these days is a high risk of an infectious disease outbreak. In the past five years, Ukraine has faced more than one outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases. In fact, a polio outbreak continues in the country to this day, and the latest case of polio-induced paralysis was confirmed in February. As this crippling disease recognises no borders, it now threatens every unvaccinated child in the region. With many Ukrainian children missing their compulsory vaccination doses due the war-related disruption of the healthcare system, we must ensure they have access to immunization as soon as they arrive in the host countries. UNICEF is already working with the Moldovan government to roll-out immunization services for the youngest refugees and their families. Having spent some time at the MoldExpo Exhibition Center, we had a chance to observe how it is being transformed from empty premises with beds and pillows into a structured child-friendly space. Blue Dots have been set up and first children joined the art programme. Moldova has already opened their educational and day-care centres to Ukrainian asylum seekers, and, as of today, 191 children have enrolled. Access to quality pre-school and school education marks the start of a new beginning both for them and their parents. Meanwhile, there are thousands of children back in Ukraine who are robbed of the chance to learn, as their families are still trapped on the roads or bomb shelters. We are still far from understanding every layer of the unprecedented influence that the war in Ukraine has on our communities. Although, something has become clear to me after visiting Moldova last week. The war in Ukraine is not just any crisis. It is, first and foremost, a child protection crisis. A child protection crisis that will have an impact on the entire region. Afshan Khan is a UNICEF Regional Director Europe and Central Asia, UNICEF Representative to the UN in Geneva, Special Coordinator, Refugee and Migrant Response in Europe. She has spent 25 years in the United Nations, primarily with UNICEF, responding to some of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time, from the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami to war and conflict affected countries.
"I'd settle for a year being sick, as long as it's not her, not for a single day"
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/id-settle-year-being-sick-long-its-not-her-not-single-day
Little Varya was 3 years old when Alexei and Nastya Naumov adopted her from an orphanage. They had long dreamed of children, when they found this girl who looked so much like Alexei Naumov. Nothing could stop them: neither difficulties, nor Varyusha's diagnosis – HIV, which the orphanage told them about right away. Varya Varya at the New Year celebration Nastya and Alexei decided that they wouldn't conceal their now 9 year old daughter's diagnosis. It is better to put all the cards on the table, than constantly have to look over their shoulder, they say. The parents always emphasize: they have never regretted their decision. In November 2018, when Varya was in the first grade, she fell ill with scarlet fever. The family had just moved to Almaty from Atyrau. Nastya Naumova brought her daughter to two pediatricians, but they did not suspect anything. And then their infectious disease specialist at the AIDS center confirmed the diagnosis. 'Guys, you have scarlet fever,' she said. "It seemed to me that this was a forgotten disease, that it is simply impossible. Varya has recovered, but I was still afraid. And as it turned out, not in vain," says Nastya. The Naumovs were warned that live vaccines are contraindicated for a child with HIV. "I was afraid that Varya would get infected," Anastasia says. "I didn't know how the virus would work with her diagnosis, how it would affect the body. And, thank God, for a long time she was able to avoid infection. But, as it turned out, not measles." In Kazakhstan all children diagnosed with HIV usually receive a medical contraindication for vaccination, which applies to the so-called live vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella. Although in accordance with the WHO clinical protocol, a vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and other measles-containing vaccines (MCV) should be considered for HIV-infected patients who are asymptomatic or mildly immunosuppressed, as per the routine national schedule. For infants with high risk of exposure to the measles virus, an additional dose of single-antigen measles vaccine administered at 6–11 months of age is recommended, followed by a first dose of routine MMR or another MCV at age 12 months or older (with a minimum interval of 1 month between doses).1 Parents can learn more about each vaccine, included into the National Vaccination Calendar, at a special website dedicated to children routine vaccination: EGU.kz In February 2019, when Varya was preparing to go to school, she noticed red dots on her legs: hemorrhagic vasculitis. Nastya and Varya were immediately taken to the hospital; they thought it was an allergy. For 3 weeks the child was not diagnosed, doctors had not realised that it was measles. Anastasia Naumova shares her story Anastasia Naumova shares her story Later, it turned out that hemorrhagic vasculitis was Varya's body's reaction to measles. The incubation period was already in progress. But the doctors the Naumovs visited did not understand this. Their infectious disease specialist arrived at the hospital only after Varya's temperature rose to 40 degrees, and diagnosed her with measles. Varya and her mother were taken to the infectious diseases hospital. Varya at the hospital with measles Varya at the hospital with measles "I will never forget the following 10 days…," Nastya says. Varya fell seriously ill. She was burning with a fever, crying from pain at night. There was nothing Nastya could do to help her child. "I have hardly slept these ten days. I would lean on the table, doze off, the timer would go off - I set Varya's temperature to be measured every hour. And you can't do anything - the treatment is symptomatic," Nastya says. The complications were the worst. Varya had right-sided pneumonia, so severe that she could not swallow saliva. How would Nastya give her pills? Water? Food? "I was almost shoving this pill into her mouth, and Varya cried and shouted: 'Mom, it hurts! Mom, don't!' Almost two years have passed since that moment, and I am still shaking. I'd settle for a year being sick, as long as it's not her, not for a single day. When you see that your child suffers so much simply because someone did not give her the vaccine, how would you feel about it? I have no words," Nastya says. In total, they spent about 6.5 weeks in the hospital. During their stay the hospital was full. Children and many adults - all with measles. Fortunately, Varya pulled through. Emaciated, she weighed 17 or 18 kilograms, weak, but alive. Varya does not mention her illness. Nastya noticed that after the illness Varya started having problems studying. Apparently, this ten day long fever affected her cognitive abilities. "I believe if opponents of vaccination ever saw how people bear measles, they would think about it. It's a shame that children who have medical contraindication are at risk," Nastya says. The Naumovs then vaccinated their daughter (with those vaccines that are not contraindicated for her) in an ordinary district hospital. "The child has HIV infection, an incurable disease, but even she did not have a reaction to the vaccine," Nastya says. In 2019, there was an outbreak of measles in Kazakhstan with 16,871 cases, of which 13,326 (78.9%) were laboratory confirmed.2 19 children and two adults dies from the disease. Among the victims of measles, 8 children were not vaccinated due to medical contraindications. In 2020, 3,270 cases of measles were registered, of which 2,265 were children under 14 years of age. False contraindications and medical exemptions have been identified as one of the main causes of missed opportunities to vaccinate against measles during the root cause analysis conducted by UNICEF Kazakhstan. The analysis was the part of the UNICEF Kazakhstan Measles Outbreak Prevention Program funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). "We sincerely thank USAID for partnering in such an important program for children's lives to prevent a measles outbreak in the future and strengthen the immunization programme in Kazakhstan. We believe that this project will help save and preserve the lives and health of Kazakhstani children and families," said the UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan Arthur van Diesen. The Program provided technical support to analyze the causes of the measles outbreak, study parents' views on vaccination and awareness campaigns, as well as recommendations for improving the supply of vaccines and building the capacity of healthcare workers for immunization. For example, UNICEF is providing a series of trainings to address false contraindications in cooperation with the Association of Family Doctors of Kazakhstan in Aktobe, Atyrau, Eastern-Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda, Turkestan, Karaganda oblasts, Almaty and Shymkent.
Precious support in the game of life
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/precious-support-game-life
Thanks to funding from the European Union 'RM Child-Health' initiative, UNICEF works to ensure that all refugee and migrant children in Bosnia and Herzegovina have access to primary health care, including paediatric services and, in the case of 10-year old Maisa, a vital pair of glasses. "I will wear these glasses all the time. I hope I won't lose them during the next 'game'", says 10-year-old Maisa.* In Maisa's world, the word "game" does not mean playing with her friends. It is the slang she uses to describe the attempts she and her family – originally from Iran – have made to cross the border from Bosnia and Herzegovina into the European Union in search of a more a promising future. To date, all of their attempts have failed. But they will keep trying. Maisa is at the opticians in Cazin, trying to decide which eyeglasses suit her best, having been brought here previously by a team from UNICEF and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), with funding from the EU's 'RM Child-Health' initiative, to have her eyes tested by an ophthalmologist. Trying on glasses while wearing protective face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is an additional challenge, making it difficult for her to judge how the glasses look. Her dad, Zerin*, helps her choose and she is delighted with the purple-framed glasses that will come 'home' with her to the Sedra reception centre in Bihać. A pair of glass might seem like a small thing, but for Maisa, this is a joyous moment that will enhance her view of the world around her. Human lives are at stake in the game played by Maisa and her family. She has endured so many challenges since she left her native Tehran a year ago. At the time, she still had multifocal glasses that were suitable for treating her strabismus. However, the unpredictable life on the migrant route meant that Maisa lost her glasses long before the family arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her new glasses will allow her to continue her treatment for strabismus and help repair her damaged vision. Maisa at the pediatric clinic Maisa at the pediatric clinic of the Sedra Reception Center, her medical examination before heading off to the optical shop to get new eyeglasses. Back at the Sedra reception centre, Maisa talks about her hopes. She can't explain exactly why she wants her wanderings on the European continent to end happily in England, but maybe the staff of the reception centre are partly responsible for that: "They teach me English and thanks to them, I speak better because I want to be able to express myself clearly" she says to her Farsi translator, who helps to enhance communication between children like Maisa and local health services. The family's attempts to cross the border to find a better life somewhere in the north of Europe have taken their toll on Maisa's education. Nevertheless, her English flows with such ease and eloquence that one almost forgets she is sitting in the reception centre's modest and crumbling paediatric clinic. She could be doing her medical examination before enrolling in a prestigious international school. The healthcare professionals at the Sedra clinic cannot estimate exactly how many children it is serving at the moment, as children so often go to 'games' with their families. Some return, some don't, and new children arrive, with different health issues, of different ages and from different backgrounds. The reception centre is occupied mostly by families with children, so there has been a clear need for paediatric services for a long time. Maisa entering the pediatric clinic Maisa entering the pediatric clinic of the Sedra Reception center, where along with her medical check-ups she is practicing her English skills and conversing with the medical workers. According to its team of paediatricians, children most often come to the clinic for general health examinations, or because of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Babies are also taken care of, in addition to examinations, therapies and dressing services. If the outpatient clinic can't provide the care that is needed, children are referred to the Bihać Cantonal Hospital or the Cazin Health Center. And it is thanks to this referral system, supported by the 'RM Child-Health' initiative, that Maisa was referred to the ophthalmologist. In total, more than 750 children were helped by the paediatric clinic between January and September 2020. "Thanks to the support of the EU 'RM Child-Health' initiative, and the work of the DRC and our partners working within reception centres, the quality and number of services provided to children in need of health care have increased significantly since we founded the pediatric units in Sedra and Borići", says Amila Madžak, Education officer at the UNICEF office in Bihać. "This has had a positive impact on individuals and families, and on migrant communities, as well as on wider public health. Help is also provided for unaccompanied children living in the reception centres in Bira and Miral. In addition to basic services, the paediatric care on offer also includes immunization services, systematic examinations, ophthalmological and dental services, consultations, training and coaching for children and adults. We also went through the first cycle of immunization with 500 children in the USC, and we are continuing with the next cycle in the Una Sana Canton, as well as in Sarajevo Canton." Fortunately, Maisa's problem was much easier to solve than many other health problems faced by the children of migrants, refugees and by unaccompanied minors. For many of them, this is the end of the road, with no prospect of going any further. And going further is what Maisa has been dreaming of since embarking on this unpredictable journey: the London rain, the British accent and the ability to use her eyes to their full potential. *Names changed to protect identities. This story is part of the Project Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children's Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe, Co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the 'RM Child-Health' initiative). Logo The content of this article represents the views of the author(s) only and is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.
Safeguarding the health of refugee and migrant children during COVID-19
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/safeguarding-health-refugee-and-migrant-children-during-covid-19
"When COVID arrived here, I thought: 'It's over, it will spread throughout the building'. I didn't think it was possible to avoid the spread of the outbreak. Instead, we have had very few cases and we owe this, above all, to the support we received from INTERSOS and UNICEF." Josehaly (Josy), a refugee living in Rome A field worker from Intersos fastens a mask for a young refugee girl in Rome. A field worker from Intersos fastens a mask for a young refugee girl in Rome. The 'RM Child-Health' initiative is funding work across five European countries to keep refugee and migrant children connected to health services. While the COVID-19 pandemic was not foreseen when the initiative was first launched, the strategic principles underpinning the 'RM Child-Health' initiative – flexibility, responsiveness to real needs, and building on what works – meant that UNICEF and partners could swing into action to safeguard the health and wellbeing of refugee and migrant children and overcome intensified and unprecedented challenges. Since the launch of the 27-month 'RM Child-Health' initiative in January 2020, activities were adapted quickly to address access to health services during the COVID-19 crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Serbia. This €4.3 million initiative, co-funded by the European Union Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, has shown refugee and migrant children and families how to protect themselves and others, and that they have every right to health care – even in a pandemic. The rapid escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe in 2020 exacerbated the already worrying state of health and wellbeing of the region's most vulnerable people, including refugee and migrant children, and has had a protracted impact on their access to health and other vital services. The situation has been particularly dire for refugees and migrants who are not in formal reception sites, and who are, therefore, harder to reach and monitor. Refugee and migrant families living in over-crowded conditions with limited access to sanitation are at high risk of infection. These communities have often had to face a 'double lockdown', confined to their settlements and camps and having little or no access to accurate information on protecting themselves and others. The additional pressures have been severe. UNICEF and its partners in Bulgaria have seen appeals for support double from 30 to 60 cases per day. Far more refugees and asylum-seekers have been in urgent need of financial and material support, having lost their incomes because of the pandemic. There have been increased requests for support to meet the cost of medical care for children, which is not covered by the state budget, and more requests for psychosocial support. This increase in demand has, of course, coincided with serious challenges for service delivery. Restrictions on movement have curtailed in-person services, and partners have had to adapt the way in which they connect with refugees and migrants. The pandemic has had a direct impact on the provision of group sessions to share health-related information, as well as on the timely identification of children and women suffering from or at risk of health-related issues. The impact on vital services for timely and quality maternal and child health care, psychosocial support, recreational and non-formal services, and on services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) has been profound. In Bulgaria, UNICEF and its partners were able to take immediate measures with support from the 'RM Child-Health' initiative to alleviate the impact, including online awareness raising and information sessions and the use of different channels for communication, including social media. UNICEF's partners, the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (CRWB) and the Mission Wings Foundation (MWF) adapted service delivery to allow both face-to-face interaction (while maintaining social distancing for safety) as well as assistance online and by telephone. Partners were able to continue to provide direct social services support while also delivering online consultations to refugees and migrants on cases of violence, as well as referral to specialized services. In Greece, the initiative supported the development of child-friendly information posters and stickers for refugee and migrant children and their families on critical preventive measures and on what to do and where to go if they experience any COVID-19 symptoms. In Italy, the initiative has supported outreach teams and community mobilization, providing refugee and migrant families with the information and resources they need to keep the pandemic at bay. In Rome, for example, health promoters from Intersos continued to work directly with refugee and migrant communities in informal settlements, not only to prevent infection but also to keep their spirits high, as one health promoter explained: "We have organized housing modules that are not only designed to keep the community safe, but also to stop loneliness overwhelming the people forced into isolation. The entire community has assisted people affected by the virus by cooking, washing clothes and offering all possible support, particularly to the children." UNICEF and its partners in Italy, as in other countries, have aimed to maintain continuity and unimpeded access to key services. Child protection, for example, has been mainstreamed into all project activities, and additional measures have been introduced, with a ramping up of activities to raise awareness and share information. UNICEF partners adapted quickly to the pandemic, with Médecins du Monde (MdM) activating a hotline number to provide remote counselling and psychological first aid (PFA). Centro Penc shifted to remote case management and individual psychological support, strengthening the capacity of cultural mediators to support GBV survivors, with UNICEF's support. Young people were consulted and engaged through UNICEF's online platform U-Report on the Move, with young U-reporters sharing information on the increased risks of GBV, as well as on available services. In Serbia, the initiative has supported UNICEF's efforts to improve the immunization process for refugee children and migrants by strengthening the assessment and monitoring process. As a result of such efforts, refugees and migrants have been included in the national COVID-19 Immunization Plan.


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World Champ Schippers Wins Sprint Double at Bryan Clay Invite
AZUSA, CA — World champion Dafne Schippers produced world-leading times on her way to winning the sprint double to open her season at Friday's Bryan Clay Invitational at the Azusa Pacific Cougar Stadium.
Steve Campbell
Schippers, the IAAF World Championships 2015 champion over 200m, got a measured start and then pulled away from the field over the last few metres to record 10.95 seconds, the first sub-11 seconds performance of the season.
The Dutch sprinter, representing Tumbleweed, also broke the previous meet and stadium record of 11.06, set by Great Britain's Desiree Henry last year.
Following Schippers home on Friday was American Tianna Bartoletta, who ran 11.08 in the same heat, while Henry, the winner of Heat 2 in 11.09, finished third overall on the day.
Schippers returned later in the night and clocked 22.29 secs, improving the previous 2017 best effort of 22.60 by Americans Gabrielle Thomas and Felicia Brown and Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown.
Desiree stopped the clock at 22.70 for second place in the 200m on Friday night.
In the men's 100m event, Great Britain's Adam Gemili posted a time of 10.08 seconds for first place.
Japan's 18-year-old Hakim Sani Brown, the 2015 World Youth 100m and 200m sprint double champion, was second in 10.18, while Dutch veteran sprinter Churandy Martina took third in 10.20.
Sani Brown returned to take the 200m with a time of 20.41.
Complete Results From 2017 Bryan Clay Invitational
In this article:Dafne Schippers, iaaf world championships, World-Leading
Written By Steve Campbell
Covers meetings in the United States, including the USA Championships, meetings in Florida and Miami, as well as promoting on social media @worldtrack,
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Several of the greatest athletes will feature at the 2021 Istvan Gyulai Memorial meeting on Monday and Tuesday (5-6) and you can stream it...
Christopher George, reportingJuly 5, 2021
[Watch Video] Gabby Thomas runs No. 3 fastest-ever 200m to win at U.S. Olympic trials
Gabby Thomas leaped all the way to No. 3 all-time in the women's 200m after running 21.61s to win the 2021 U.S. Olympic trials...
Symone GossJune 27, 2021
Winners at the 2021 USA Olympic track and field trials
List of winners at the 2021 USA Olympic track and field trials which included a world record and few national records and world-leading performances.
World-leading senior and junior marks in the past few days: May 30
World-leading times and marks over the last few days. Several of the world-leading marks came at the Diamond League and 2021 NCAA Regionals.
Gary SmithMay 30, 2021

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Retail surgery: How do I automate our telephone customer service effectively?
I want to automate our telephone customer service, but how can I ensure the system helps my customers effectively without alienating them?
The secret to having automated customer service that both enriches the user experience and reduces costs is to ensure the system is designed around your customers' needs, not the organisation's.
It's vital to test any automated self-service application with customers before it goes live. "This is the best way to iron out any wrinkles," Fish explains.
Finally, automated self-service isn't something that can be implemented and left alone. If you want to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction and self-service, you must treat it as something that needs to be continuously managed and improved.


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New Sucker Punch Animated Short Breathes The Fire Of Faith
Published: Mar. 17. 2011 6:52 PM
With the release of Zack Snyder's new visual feast drawing ever closer, the team behind Sucker Punch has begun releasing a series of brilliantly animated shorts, set in the fantasy world of Sucker Punch. If you saw the first one, which told the story of a stormtrooper from capture, to indoctrination, to death, you probably know what you're for with this second entry. You're wrong.
The animation style is the same but the story is different. This one ignores the more focused, individual story used in the stormtrooper short in an attempt to say something big and broad about the power of religion and faith. In the process, it turns into something pretty preachy, but in its own way also beautiful and thoughtful. This is definitely not the sort of thing you expect from anything associated with Zach Snyder.
Watch the new Sucker Punch themed animated short film, entitled "Dragon" right here:
That awesome voice you just heard narrating "Dragon" belongs to the great character actor Keith David. He's not actually in Sucker Punch, but he's the kind of actor that shows up almost everywhere else. Most recently he played the head of the awesomely named "Carnival of Crime" in the failed NBC superhero series The Cape. He does a lot of voice over work, but clearly he needs even more. What a voice. Besides, Morgan Freeman can't be the voice of everything.
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A switchback staircase switches between red oak and white painted elements for an ultimately warm, comfortable colonial style. The spindles and simplified, understated box newels are an added investment that's paid back in the homey feel the farmhouse look brings. The wide landing and windows give this residential staircase a unique feel and look. Contact us through the form below to discuss a custom staircase design for your home.


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Tips for Applying
Student Fellowships
Persephone Miel Fellowship
Persephone Miel Fellowships
Image by Ako Salemi. Iran, 2016.
Persephone Miel
The call for 2019 fellows is now closed. The call for proposals for 2020 will open in February.
The 2019 Persephone Miel fellowship has been awarded to Yiting (Amber) Lin, an independent journalist from Taiwan.
The fellowship, overseen by the Pulitzer Center in collaboration with Internews, is designed to help journalists from the developing world do the kind of reporting they've always wanted to do and enable them to bring their work to a broader international audience. The fellowship will benefit those with limited access to other fellowships and those whose work is not routinely disseminated internationally. Miel fellowships involve reporting from within the applicant's native country—or following migrant communities from there to other locations.
See the announcement of the fellowship at the Internews ceremony in honor of Persephone in October 2010.
Eligibility: The Persephone Miel fellowships are open to all journalists, writers, photographers, radio producers or filmmakers, staff journalists as well as freelancers and media professionals outside the U.S. who are seeking to report from their home country. Female journalists and journalists from developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants must be proficient in English.
Selection: The fellowship recipient will be selected by the Pulitzer Center in consultation with Internews. Selection will be based on the strength of the proposed topic and the strength of the applicant's work as demonstrated in their work samples. We are looking for projects that explore systemic issues in the applicant's native country and that provide an overarching thesis, rather than individual spot-reports from the field.
Terms of travel grant: The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting will provide a travel grant of $5000 for a reporting project on topics and regions of global importance, with an emphasis on issues that have gone unreported or under-reported in the mainstream media. Specific grant terms are negotiated during the application process based on the scope of proposed work and intended outcomes. Payment of the first half of the grant is disbursed prior to travel, upon receipt of required materials, and the second half on submission of the principal work for publication/broadcast.
Before beginning the project the Persephone Miel Fellow will come to Washington, D.C., to meet with Pulitzer Center staff and journalists and take part in a 2-day workshop on the pending project and strategies for placement and outreach. The Pulitzer Center will provide $2500 to cover travel expenses associated with the Washington workshop.
The Center works with fellowship recipients to distribute their work across multiple platforms in the U.S. to reach the widest possible audience. Projects with multimedia components that combine print, photography and video are strongly encouraged.
Previous fellows:
2018: Changqian Zhong, a Chinese filmmaker, is producing a short documentary about children coming out to their parents in China.
2017: Anastasia Rudenko, a Russian photojournalist, reported on women living at a psycho-neurological boarding house in Russia.
2016: Ako Salemi, an Iranian photojournalist, reported on the impacts of climate change in Iran.
2015: Yam Kumari Kandel and Shilu Manandhar reported on Nepalese migrant workers in Qatar, and Mary Wairimu Michengi followed Kenyan migrants on their journey through Africa into Europe. All three are journalists with the Global Press Journal.
2014: Ana P. Santos reported on the plight of Filipino women working as nannies abroad.
2013: Anna Nemtsova reported on the internal migration of youth inside Russia.
2012: Ameto Akpe investigated the sustainability of U.S. development projects in northern Nigeria where poverty, illiteracy and radical Islam shape economic and social realities.
2011: Tariq Mir, Sivam Vij, and Shaheen Buneri reported on a range of issues from India and Pakistan.
Learn how you can support the Persephone Miel Fellowship Fund.


Not everyone is prepared to host a feast. Sometimes a 20lb turkey is just too much for a smaller crowd (or couple). Using a small Cornish hen, you can make a single serving holiday meal – just miniature! This recipe was designed to serve 4, but can always be adjusted to serve however many you'd like since everyone gets their own whole hen to enjoy. The best part about this recipe? It's made in one pan!
Preheat your oven to 475 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the potatoes, Brussels sprouts and carrots together adding just enough olive oil to coat when tossed (approx 2 tbsp). Add salt and pepper to taste.
Pour the vegetables into a 9 x 13 baking dish, spreading out evenly across the pan.
Sit the Cornish hens, breast side up, on top of the vegetables. Drizzle with olive oil, and rub the oil all over the skin of the hens with your hands (or a brush).
Season each hen with salt & pepper, rosemary, and any other seasoning of choice.
Bake at 425 degrees F for 15 mins.
Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue cooking for 30 minutes, or until an internal temperature of 180 degrees F has been reached.
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Whether you roast, fry, or barbecue your turkey, it will surely be the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving table.
Not everyone hosts or attends a big Thanksgiving feast and that is okay!


text:
Robert (Bob) Riffenburg: 1938-2022
By North Coast Journal Staff
Robert (Bob) Riffenburg, 1938-2022.
Robert (Bob) Riffenburg cherished living in Fortuna since 1962. He finished his life on Dec. 15 when pneumonia and congestive heart disease won the fight.
Bob graduated from Humboldt State University in 1964 and taught at Loleta Elementary and then math at Jacob's Junior High until 1979. He left teaching to become active in Eureka's business community as a property manager. He was a regular at local Bocce ball tournaments.
Bob was grateful for the love and care he felt. He wanted it to be told, "I've been damn lucky and had a very good ride. Bye-bye." His wife Dottie, daughter Hawley, granddaughter Ravella and his Border Terrier Ta will miss the love and laughter he so generously gave.
As he requested, no service will be held. His family will respect his wishes.