…child protection, survival and development highly prioritised
GOVERNMENT remains a committed partner in prioritising children’s welfare and development with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as the two bodies Monday  signed a US$2.8 million Annual Work Plan for 2011 at the Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara. The plan, signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Deputy Representative of UNICEF Rudiger Luchmann, outlines the activities to be undertaken this year that warrant focus for specific interventions. Some of the plan’s focus areas are Public Policy and Child Rights, Child Protection and Child Survival and Development.
Ministers of Education Shaik Baksh, Health – Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Amerindian Affairs – Pauline Sukhai and Human Services and Social Security – Priya Manickchand, along with permanent secretaries and other government officials attended the signing. 
Minister Rodrigues-Birkett, in an invited comment, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the plan includes programmes for the human services, health, youth, sport and education sectors.
She said a significant part of the meeting centred on Guyana’s achievements in 2010 since the plan is a continuation of the work done in that year.

Commenting on the impact of the work plan on Guyana’s ability to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said that UNICEF’s partnership is highly important, especially in relation to women and children’s issues, and UNICEF’s skills and experience can mesh with Guyana’s work towards achieving both the MDGs and the country’s national goals.
UNICEF’s Deputy Representative Rudiger Luchmann stated that special focus will now be placed on working towards the holistic implementation of policies for all children in Guyana, regardless of their geographical location. He said that the partners are also thinking ahead to the next country programme document for 2012-2016, that has already received Government’s approval.
“So what we saw today is really yet another milestone,” Luchmann said.  
Also among the priorities this year would be health policies and guidelines for adolescents where focus will be placed on factors influencing vulnerabilities of youth in hinterland areas, including domestic violence and gender issues.
The signing of the 2011 Annual Work Plan signals the official commencement of programmes and activities aimed at achieveing specific results for children and women through the Ministries of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Education, Culture Youth and Sport, Health, Legal Affairs, Amerindian Affairs, Home Affairs, Non Governmental Organisations and civil society partners. (GINA)