UNICEF and IKEA scheme to boost children's health in India

A link up between UNICEF and IKEA is to be expanded in order to provide children in India with more protection against diseases.

IKEA Social Initiative, the firm's corporate philanthropy arm, has announced that its will invest a further $48 million (£33 million) into UNICEF's programmes in India.

Between 2000 and 2015, this will bring the company's donations to the charity to more than $180 million, with malnutrition and immunisation against disease the major areas being tackled.

Saad Houry, UNICEF deputy executive director, said: "The IKEA Social Initiative makes a serious corporate commitment toward improving the living conditions in countries where it is working.

Karin Hulshof, UNICEF India country representative, added: "The resources being provided will allow us to implement critical long-term programmes that seek to improve child survival, development and protection."

A previous scheme in 2000 between IKEA and UNICEF saw 140,000 children and 150,000 women immunised against disease.

Just under 40 per cent of the total number of malnourished children worldwide live in India.

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