UNICEF Launches “Facts for Life” in Beirut
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The first edition of Facts for Life by UNICEF had been launched on Wednesday 15th of June 2011 in the Bristol Hotel, Beirut. UNICEF Regional Goodwill Ambassador, Singer and Lebanese artist Mrs. Nancy Ajram, Dr. Salim Sayegh, Minister of Social Affairs, Mrs. Shahida Azfar, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa and Mrs. Annamaria Laurini, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, have attended the event.
“Facts for Life” is the first edition of a book that will be available free of charge in Lebanon. The book is the Arabic version of a program that has been adopted by the UNICEF worldwide, aiming at producing a reference guidebook. Lebanon’s Regional Office invited 58 Lebanese experts from different fields to verify, validate and make sure of the accuracy and credibility of the information published in this guide book that has been written in a simple clear language, to reflect clear messages and present accessible scientific materials that are easy to comprehend and to act upon accordingly about health awareness issues.
“Facts for Life” aims at providing valid health information and basic facts to the readers about methods of protection from common health diseases and illnesses in Lebanon that might affect the health of youth, the builders of the future and the potential fathers and mothers. To help them acquire some essential life skills and to develop positive trends in terms of public, personal health.
His Excellency, Dr. Sayegh highlighted the importance of this publication ” This publication will enrich the Arabic library that is in need of such educational methods, should it be used in community action, it would make change possible towards safer, securer and well-being for the best of children and their families”. His Excellency complimented the UNICEF for this publication, and declared that the Ministry of Social Affairs is ready to open its countrywide centers that are in direct contact with the children, their mothers and their families in order to translate the messages of this guidebook into educational and awareness programs..
The UNICEF Regional Director, Mrs. Azfar, appreciated the positive action of Lebanon Office and acknowledged the significance of this guidebook in her professional and personal life, declaring that “Facts for Life, is one of the best UNICEF reference books with 15 million copies being produced worldwide in 215 different languages.
In her turn, Mrs. Annamaria Laurini, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, expressed her gratitude to the prestigious audience and especially to the UNICEF Regional Goodwill Ambassador, Ms. Nancy Ajram, for joining, as a mother of two young girls, who has experienced motherhood, which make her participation particularly important, and empowering for other mothers, children and teenagers.
Mrs. Laurini drew attention to equity regarding health education in UNICEF’s programme in Lebanon and all over the world. Laurini confirmed that the Lebanese version of Facts for Life adopted a participatory methodology with contributions from 58 experts in order to produce a reference book that truly reflects the social and health realities in Lebanon.
Nancy Ajram shared her experience as a mother of two young girls and the fact that she learned a great deal by reading Facts for Life. She talked about the benefits of natural breastfeeding that she has practiced with her two little daughters and the importance of healthy nutrition in the development of the child.
