text: 13.Themedium-term planfortheperiod 1990-1993 (E/ICEF/1990/3 andCorr.l) wasa substantive revision oftheprevious planfor1989-1992. Itwasprepared inthe context ofthegoalsandstrategies forchildren inthe1990s(E/ICEF/1990/L.5 and E/ICEF/1990/CRP.2) andofforeseeable socio-economic trends. 14.Somedelegations expressed satisfaction withthegreater balance evident among theprogramme areas, asalsonotedinparagraph 9above, andcommended UNICEF efforts torefocusitsattention onotherimportant areassuchasbasiceducation andMCH,including safemotherhood, acuterespiratory infections (ARI),thecontrol ofdiarrhoeal diseases, waterandsanitation andnutrition. Particular importance wasattached toreducing theinfantmortality rate(IMR). UNICEF wasurgedto focusgreater attention on"reaching theunreached", theelimination ofgender disparities, community participation, sustainability, national capacity-building, theempowerment ofwomenandchildren andtheenvironment. 15.Asnotedbyonedelegation, themedium-term planproposed abroadening ofthe scopeofUNICEFactivities through theallocation ofequalsharesofresources to health, education andsafewatersupply andsanitation. Thiswouldmeanthatby theyear2000,health expenditure woulddecrease from40to25percent,while education expenditure wouldincrease from7to25percent. SU9hasignificant changeoforientation wasqueried byseveral delegations, whostressed thatthe broader rangeofprogramme interventions outlined inthemedium-term planshould notdiminish thelevelofsupport forhealth programmes, although theachievement ofUCIby1990should leadtoreduced spending onimmunization campaigns. One delegation expressed concern abouttheproposed increase ineducation expenditure, stating thatanyactivities inthisfieldwouldrequire careful planning and co-ordination withlocalagencies anddonors. 16.Therewasconsensus amongBoardmembers thatUNICEF hadtheobligation to respond appropriately, andasresources permitted, whenever therewerechildren in perilous circumstances, butAfrica mustremainthecontinent ofgreatest priority forUNICEF duringthe1990s. (Seechap.IV,decision 1990/3 andannexI, paras. 9-13.) Childsurvival anddevelopment 17.UNICEF wascommended fortheprogress madeintheexpanded programme on immunization (EPI)and,inpromoting theuseoforalrehydration therapy (aRT)in thetreatment ofdiarrhoeal diseases. Manydelegations reported ontheir countries' efforts andcommitments tomeettheglobaltargetofUCIby1990,the majority ofwhichhadalready achieved orwerewithin reachofthetarget. The Boardalsoheardreports fromcountries thathadreached andsustained thisgoalin spiteofcivilconflict andsevere economic constraints andwerepresently building ontheUCIexperience togalvanize thepolitical willnecessary toundertake more ambitious childsurvival anddevelopment (CSD)initiatives. 18.Itwasnoted, however, thatalthough morethantwothirdsofthechildren in developing countries hadbeenimmunized, therewasconsiderable slippage insome countries inAfrica, theMiddleEastandAsia.Thisraisedquestions about sustainability and,according toonedelegation, abouttheneedforadjustments in large-scale programmes suchasUCIthathadmobilized considerable resources, but hadapparently reached thelimitsofcost-effectiveness. Asapossible solution, -7-itwassuggested thatperhaps UNICEF couldassistintheestablishment ofhospital referral services andanetwork ofsmall,decentralized healthunitsthatwouldbe operated bybettertrained andmotivated health workers. UNICEF wasurgedtopay greater attention tothewishesofthetargetgroups toensuretheiracceptance of andactiveparticipation inthevarious activities. 19.Inwelcoming theimplementation ofprogrammes toensure CSD,suchasEPIand ORT,onedelegation pointed tothedisappointing progress intheareaofwater supply andsanitation. Only60percentofthepopulations indeveloping countries haveaccesstosafedrinking waterandonly25percenthaveadequate sanitation facilities. Concerns werealsoexpressed aboutthealarming percentage ofnewborns withtetanus whenproven andaffordable interventions wereavailable. Inthis connection, UNICEF wasencouraged toexamine whytheimmunization coverage of
analysis: The text primarily focuses on UNICEF's plans and strategies for improving the well-being of children, particularly in developing countries. It discusses the allocation of resources, program interventions, and goals for health, education, and water supply and sanitation. The text also mentions the importance of community participation, sustainability, and national capacity-building. Given the emphasis on children's health, education, and welfare, it is likely that the text falls under the categories related to human development.