UNICEF REP HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGES IN GUINEA-BISSAU AND

UNCLAS DAKAR 001083

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO - AMBASSADOR REES, G/TIP, AF/EPS AND AF/W
AID/W FOR AFR/WA AND AFR/SD
ACCRA FOR USAID/WA
PARIS PLS PASS TO USMISSION TO UNESCO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI EAID UNICEF PU
SUBJECT: UNICEF REP HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGES IN GUINEA-BISSAU AND
APPEALS FOR USG SUPPORT


SUMMARY
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1. On April 16, Jean Dricot, the UNICEF Representative in
Guinea-Bissau, called on then-Charge and Acting DCM to solicit
support for UNICEF's USD 58 million, 2008-2012 program. He
highlighted some of the huge challenges that the Government and
donors face in one of the world's poorest countries. Discussing
health issues, he stressed vaccinations, breast feeding, bed nets to
prevent malaria as ways to combat one of the highest child mortality
rates in Africa. Focusing on education, he discussed malnutrition,
teacher training and high drop-out rates. We also discussed
Guinea-Bissau's worsening HIV/AIDS problem, and the lack of public
awareness about how HIV spreads. END SUMMARY.

HEALTH
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2. UNICEF believes that it can halve the number of Bissau-Guinean
children under five who perish each year by expanding vaccinations
against measles and tetanus; encouraging breast feeding beyond two
months; reducing cholera and diarrhea through enhanced hand washing;
and distributing more bed nets to reduce the incidence of malaria in
mothers and children. Working with community radios, traditional
chiefs and religious leaders, UNICEF is already doing extensive
sensitization. One complicating factor is rising malnutrition
caused by salinization and last year's artificially high price for
cashews that left many unsold and left farmers without income.


3. HIV/AIDS and female genital mutilation also contribute to
Guinea-Bissau's health problems. Sentinel surveys reveal that seven
percent of pregnant women are HIV positive. Three-fourths of youth
report that they do not know how HIV spreads; yet 25 percent of
children over 15 report that they have had sexual relations.

EDUCATION
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4. UNICEF estimates that 60 percent of Bissau-Guinean children
start school. However, 26 distinct languages, the absence of a
widely spoken national language, and a lack of teacher training
translates into a school system that functions poorly when teachers
are not on strike over unpaid wages. Sixty percent of the estimated
4,500 teachers are not trained, and 1,500 public-school teachers
(one third) do not even have ninth-grade educations themselves.

KORANIC SCHOOLS
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5. Islamic (Koranic) schools attempt to make up some of the
deficit. Over 20,000 Bissau-Guinean children attend Koranic
schools; almost 45 percent of them -- or 9,000 -- also attend public
schools.

COMMENT
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6. Guinea-Bissau faces numerous challenges, including narcotics
trafficking, bloated security forces, and overdependence on a single
crop. The United Nations, the European Commission, the Global Fund,
and a few private foundations are working diligently to address some
of the most pressing needs. We hope the Department will support
UNICEF's request for USD 58 million for Guinea-Bissau between 2008
and 2012. END COMMENT.

JACOBS