UNICEF dignitaries arrive in Imphal
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, April 05 2011:
Karin Hulshof, UNICEF representative to India, arrived here today on a two-day pilot visit to understand the situation of children in the State.
Karin Hulshof has been accompanied in the trip by Edouard Beigbeder, chief field service, UNICEF, and other officials.
Because she arrived more than 7 hours behind schedule at 4:30 pm against the scheduled 9 am, all her scheduled programs had to be cancelled or rescheduled for tomorrow.
Accordingly tomorrow she and her entourage are expected to call on the chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh at his bungalow.
During the stay the dignitaries are also scheduled to visit pediatric wards of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) to understand and learn issues related to children.
UNICEF has reportedly corroborated with Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) on HIV/AIDS in a rejig of the traditional approach of addressing issues confronting AIDS and the issue of children, the meeting point of the two issues.
Before the visiting team leaves the State, they will hold meetings with Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), particularly those that work with child rights in order to understand the ground realities of the situation of children in the State.
A high level meeting with government officials is high on the agenda too.
It is not really known how the visiting team is going to pack in the scheduled itinerary in about a day given that the team has arrived behind schedule, but important meetings with government and civil sides are expected to take place regardless.
The team has also cancelled its interaction program today which is why journalists are unapprised of how the program tomorrow will be rolled out.