UNICEF
Rohingya children bearing brunt of COVID disruptions: UNICEF
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt life for more than 460,000 Rohingya children living in Cox’s Bazar district, says UNICEF on Monday.
WHO for solid Covid-19 measures before reopening schools in Africa
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged African countries to put solid COVID-19 prevention measures in place before embarking on reopening of learning institutions.
WHO said in a statement released in Nairobi that reopening of schools in the Sub-Saharan African region should be accompanied by strict adherence to protocols and guidelines meant to contain the spread of coronavirus, reports Xinhua.
"Just as countries are opening businesses safely, we can reopen schools," said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
This decision must be guided by a thorough risk analysis to ensure the safety of children, teachers and parents and with key measures like physical distancing put in place, she added.
A recent survey conducted by WHO in 39 Sub-Saharan African countries indicated that schools were open fully in six countries, closed in 14 and partially open in 19 to enable students to do examinations.
More than 10 African countries are planning to resume in-person learning in September, which marks the beginning of the academic year.
Moeti acknowledged that reopening of schools is key to boosting physical, mental and emotional health of children, adding that adequate safeguards should be in place to minimize the risk of contracting COVID-19.
"Schools provide a safe haven for many children in challenging circumstances to develop and thrive. We must not be blind-sided by our efforts to contain COVID-19 and end up with a lost generation," said Moeti.
The UN children's fund (UNICEF) said that extended school closures have increased the vulnerability of African children to hunger, malnutrition, depression and sexual violence.
A survey carried out by UNICEF in eastern and southern Africa revealed that violence against children had spiked during the prolonged school closures while about 10 million minors were missing free meals.
Recommendations from WHO and UNICEF stressed the need for African learning institutions to promote social distancing, hand washing and waste management to ensure their reopening does not compromise the health of students.
Covid-19 disrupts child protection services in over 100 countries: UNICEF
Children in more than 100 countries are at risk of violence, exploitation and abuse due to the disruption of important violence prevention and response services during the Covid-19 pandemic.
UN for supporting breastfeeding for healthier planet
UN has urged communities everywhere to “support breastfeeding for a healthier planet” as the World Breastfeeding Week is underway beginning Saturday.
Unicef calls for action to prevent, treat malnutrition caused by COVID-19
Admissions for treating severely wasted children with medical complications in Bangladesh were down to 10 percent in April 2020 compared to pre-pandemic levels, said Unicef on Tuesday.
1.3mn children in Bangladesh likely to be affected by flooding: UNICEF
More than 2.4 million people are estimated to be affected by flooding, including around 1.3 million children in Bangladesh, UNICEF said Thursday.
Covid-19 worsening global childcare crisis: UNICEF Chief
Henrietta Fore, the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has warned that “the pandemic is making a global childcare crisis even worse.”
Bob Marley classic reimagined and released worldwide in support of UNICEF
Members of the Marley family, including Stephen, Cedella, and Skip Marley, have launched a reimagined version of the late Bob Marley’s iconic anthem One Love to support UNICEF’s work for children affected by COVID-19.
WHO, Unicef calls for immediate effort to vaccinate children
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, stressed the need for immediate efforts to vaccinate all children as the number of children receiving life-saving vaccines around the world has declined alarmingly.
.“Vaccines are one of the most powerful tools in the history of public health, and more children are now being immunized than ever before”, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General on Wednesday, reports UN.
“But the pandemic has put those gains at risk. The avoidable suffering and death caused by children missing out on routine immunizations could be far greater than COVID-19 itself. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Vaccines can be delivered safely even during the pandemic, and we are calling on countries to ensure these essential life-saving programmes continue.”
Pandemic affecting access
Latest data from the sister UN agencies shows how the pandemic is jeopardizing improvements in vaccine expansion to more than 100 countries.
COVID-19 has put at least 30 measles vaccination campaigns at risk of cancellation worldwide, which could lead to further outbreaks this year and beyond.
A survey of 82 countries has revealed that three-quarters report disruptions in their immunization programmes related to the pandemic.
Even where services are offered, people cannot access them due to reasons such as reluctance to leave home, transport interruptions, economic hardship, movement restrictions, or fear of being exposed to people who have the disease.
Meanwhile, many health workers have been affected by travel restrictions, redeployment to COVID-19 response, and a lack of protective equipment.
Children missing out
The partners said for the first time in nearly 30 years, the world risks seeing a reduction in children receiving three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, or whooping cough (DTP3): a marker for immunization coverage within and across countries.
Prior to the crisis, DTP3 and measles vaccines coverage was already stalling at 85 per cent, and a child born today has a less than 20 per cent chance of receiving all globally recommended vaccines by their fifth birthday.
Last year, nearly 14 million children missed out on these two vaccines and other life-saving inoculations. The majority live in Africa, and two-thirds are in 10 middle- and low-income countries that include Angola, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia and India.
Hard-won gains at risk
The UN agencies further warn that the pandemic could undo progress in regions such as South Asia, where coverage for the third dose of DTP increased by 12 per cent over the past decade.
The situation is especially concerning for Latin America and the Caribbean, where “historically high” coverage has fallen during this same period.
“COVID-19 has made previously routine vaccination a daunting challenge”, said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.
“We must prevent a further deterioration in vaccine coverage and urgently resume vaccination programs before children’s lives are threatened by other diseases. We cannot trade one health crisis for another.”
Both WHO and UNICEF continue to support countries during the pandemic, including with restoring safe delivery of immunization services and providing protective equipment for health workers.
Other efforts are related to rectifying coverage gaps and expanding routine services to communities that have missed out, which are home to some of the most vulnerable children.
UNICEF, WHO warn of a decline in vaccinations during COVID-19
UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday warned of an alarming decline in the number of children receiving life-saving vaccines around the world due to disruptions in the delivery and uptake of immunisation services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.