Africa-Press – Cape verde. The executive director of Unicef Portugal suggested, in Cabo Verde, that digital skills from childhood, as well as greater climate action, should be priorities to contribute to children’s well-being.
“Climate change affects essential infrastructure such as schools and health centers. We need to ensure that new buildings take these changes into account,” said Beatriz Imperatori, at the end of a visit to the archipelago.
The trip to the islands of Santo Antão and São Vicente took place following the campaign that mobilized 400 thousand euros, launched in 2024, by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) of Portugal, together with its donors, to support children in Cape Verde in the fields of health, education, protection, water and sanitation.
Cape Verde is among the regions of the world that face the most risks from climate change, due to rising sea levels, droughts or torrential rains, among other extreme events.
The topic should be included in school curricula, said the Portuguese head of the United Nations agency, so that students can understand the reality and propose solutions appropriate to their context.
Beatriz Imperatori also considered it essential to give children digital skills from an early age.
“Access to technology can make up for the lack of teachers or schools, facilitate learning and improve the provision of public services,” he explained, highlighting the case of the digitalization of vaccination cards.
“If a child moves between islands, their health history must accompany them, to ensure continuous and effective monitoring,” he explained.
Among the actions reinforced with the support are the development of the national vaccination strategy 2025-2029, with the introduction of new vaccines for children under one year old, investments in water, sanitation and hygiene and improvements in school infrastructure.
There are also plans to reinforce school transport on the islands of Santo Antão and Boa Vista, to facilitate access to school and reduce children’s exposure to the risk of sexual violence.
Measures to combat child labor are also planned.
David Matern, Unicef representative in Cape Verde, considered the visit “very positive” and highlighted that the funds mobilized by Portugal are having a “significant impact”.
For More News And Analysis About Cape verde Follow Africa-Press
