Managua, March 12 (RHC)-- The regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations' Children Fund (UNICEF) María Cristina Perceval, said that Cuba is a world champion in the defense and promotion of children's rights.

During a recent forum in Havana, Perceval said Cuba's exemplary model of early education, called "Educa a Tu Hijo (Educate Your Child)," is being adopted by many other nations.

The UNICEF official also highlighted the significant advances made by the Caribbean state in health. Cuba was the first country to eliminate the mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS in 2015.

There are more than 855,000 children under six years of age in Cuba, of whom 99.5 percent attend an early childhood education program or institution. 

çUNICEF said: "Cuba has adopted a holistic approach to early childhood development (ECD), providing children under six and their families with a system of integrated services that aims to promote the best start in life for all children and the maximum development of each child’s potential."