Children could become this pandemic’s biggest victims
https://arab.news/wc35p
COVID-19 has so far infected close to three million people around the globe, causing over 200,000 deaths. In Pakistan the spread rate has been rapidly escalating since March and currently, the number of diagnosed cases in the country stands at over 12,200 cases.
In this scenario, it is pertinent to examine the pandemic’s impact with special emphasis on vulnerable segments of the population, especially children.
Children are not the face of this pandemic, but unfortunately they are at risk of becoming some of its biggest victims. So far, children have been spared the direct health affects of the disease, but it is predicted to impact their wellbeing in myriad ways. Hence, as opposed to the direct impacts of the disease, emphasis should be given to the broader affects of the pandemic on children.
Pakistan is among the countries with the highest rates of malnutrition, stunting, wasting and underweight for age rates among children under the age of five. The current situation is going to make matters worse with disruption in nutrition programs around the country especially in geographically remote and far-flung areas, as well as among the poorest in the country.
Dr. Mehreen Mujtaba
According to a UN report, COVID-19 is expected to affect children through three main channels; firstly through the risk of infection with the virus, though children have by and large been spared from exhibiting the severe spectrum of symptoms and hospitalizations. Nonetheless, the risk is still there and it is still very early in the progression of the disease pattern to make a final verdict.
Secondly, children are going to be largely impacted by the socio economic effects of the virus, especially in low and middle-income countries. As health services become increasingly overwhelmed, there is disruption in access to essential healthcare services.
Pakistan is among the countries with the highest rates of malnutrition, stunting, wasting and underweight for age rates among children under the age of five. The current situation is going to make matters worse with disruption in nutrition programs around the country especially in geographically remote and far-flung areas, as well as among the poorest in the country.
In addition, disruption in routine immunization poses the threat of resurgence of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) among children, which can undermine the improvements seen in the past couple of years in neonatal, infant and under-five mortality rates, in line with achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
Furthermore, countrywide lockdowns have resulted in school closures. While children in urban areas still have access to online portals for continued education, children who are already living under the shadows of poverty, inequity and inequality in the urban slums as well as in rural areas, where educational facilities were in a dismal state prior to the pandemic, are going to be at a further disadvantage and excluded from digital learning portal schemes.
The potential losses that may accrue in learning for today’s youth, the development of their human capital, are hard to fathom. According to the Human Capital Index, a Pakistani child born today is expected to be only 40 percent as productive as s/he could be by age 18.
A UN policy brief titled “The impact of Covid-19 on children” reiterates that what started as a public health emergency has snowballed into a formidable test for global development and for the prospects of today’s young generation.
The evolving situation in the face of challenges posed by the pandemic calls for the government of Pakistan, development partners, NGOs and civil society to be prepared to deal with the health and education crisis facing the country’s children.
Certain short term as well as long term child-centric measures will have to be taken to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. With a high prevalence of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies among children, it is imperative to ensure continuation of essential health services as well as nutrition and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) programs.
There should be constant surveillance of VPDs and in case of a disease outbreak, mass vaccination campaigns should be started immediately. The government should provide the provision of mobile vaccination/immunization centers due to difficulty in access as a result of lockdowns. Telemedicine is a viable solution for those most in need of essential health services. There should be rapid response calls for ramping up existing online/digitized education programs such as “Teletaleem” and “Taleem Ghar” initiatives to have a wider outreach especially for girls and children living in rural areas.
The psychological impacts on children who are tragically losing a parent, family member, caregiver should also not be over looked. Special attention needs to be diverted to the mental and emotional health of children and adolescents during these testing times.
The broader impacts of Covid-19 on children risk being catastrophic and amongst the most lasting consequences for the world’s societies.
- Dr. Mehreen Mujtaba is a freelance consultant working in the areas of environment and health.
