HighlightTop StoryTrending Story

UNICEF warns of ‘lost generation’ as COVID-19 threatens irreversible harm to children

347

 

By Ajuma Edwina Ameh

 

As COVID-19 lurches towards a second year, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has warned of significant and growing consequences on children’s education, nutrition and well-being.

The international organization who stated this in a new report released on Wednesday ahead of World Children’s Day, November 20, noted that while symptoms among infected children remain mild, infections are rising and the longer-term impact on the education, nutrition and well-being of an entire generation of children and young people can be life-altering.

According to UNICEF, the report “Averting a Lost COVID Generation”, is the first of its report to comprehensively outline the dire and growing consequences for children as the pandemic drags on.

“Since the pandemic started, there has been a false belief that children are not affected by COVID-19.

“Nothing can be further from the truth, including in Nigeria. While children are less likely to have severe symptoms of illness, they can be infected – and the biggest impact by far is the disruptions to key services and increasing poverty rates, which are both having a huge impact on Nigerian children’s education, health, nutrition and well-being. The future of an entire generation is at risk – globally and in Nigeria,” UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, stated.

The new UNICEF report disclosed that while children can transmit the virus to each other and to older age groups, there is strong evidence that, with basic safety measures in place, the net benefits of keeping schools open outweigh the costs of closing them, the report notes.

New data from UNICEF surveys across 140 countries notes that, around one-third of the countries analyzed witnessed a drop of at least 10 per cent in coverage for health services such as routine vaccinations, outpatient care for childhood infectious diseases, and maternal health services, due to fear of infection.

In Nigeria, the drop was between 17 percent and 22.5 percent for select services, compared to figures from 2019 in the same period, and is variable across the country.

The data also showed a 40 per cent decline in the coverage of nutrition services for women and children across 135 countries, with an estimated decline of 35 percent in Nigeria.

More alarming data from the report further include, an estimated two million additional child deaths and 200,000 additional stillbirths could occur over a 12-month period with severe interruptions to services and rising malnutrition.

An additional six to seven million children under the age of five will suffer from wasting or acute malnutrition in 2020, a 14 per cent rise that will translate into more than 10,000 additional child deaths per month – mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

It further showed that globally, the number of children living in multidimensional poverty; without access to education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation or water, is estimated to have soared by 15 per cent, or an additional 150 million children by mid-2020.

To respond to this crisis, UNICEF is calling on all governments and partners to ensure all children learn, guarantee access to nutrition, health services and make vaccines affordable and available to every child.

“World Children’s Day is an important day to commemorate but also recommit ourselves to addressing the rights and needs of children in Nigeria.

“We are asking the government, partners and the private sector to listen to children and young people about the Nigeria they want to see for themselves and their futures, and prioritize their needs.

“As we look ahead to a post-COVID-19 world, children must come first,” Hawkins said.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

.EFCC arraigns man in court for rejecting Naira as legal currency

For allegedly refusing to accept the Naira as a legal tender and...

House of Reps appoints new deputy chief whip

Following the passing away of former Deputy Chief Whip Adewunmi Onanuga, the...

Alleged N20bln fraud: Court grants Ex-AMCON boss, Kuru N50m bail, adjourns until March 7

Justice Ramon Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja,...

Five months after cabinet reshuffle: Tinubu orders ministers to render account of stewardship

President Bola Tinubu has directed his ministers to provide an immediate account...

Updated: CBN Increases ATM Fees, Scraps Free Withdrawal Policy

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a significant revision to...

Africa Must Prioritize Energy Access Amid Global Transition, says Petroleum Minister Lokpobiri

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has said...

Reps Call for Military Intervention in Borno Communities Amid Boko Haram Resurgence

Following recent Boko Haram attacks that left scores of people killed and...

Flying Eagles Return to Camp for Egypt Friendlies Ahead of U20 AFCON

Ahead of AFCON, Nigeria’s U20 boys and seven-time African champions, the Flying...

Just in: CBN Introduces New ATM Transaction Fees Effective March 1

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a review of transaction...

Unresolved crisis: PDP suffers another defection as House of Reps member joins APC

Rep. Amos Magaji (Jaba/Zango Kataf Federal Constituency, Kaduna) of the Federal House...

Three weeks after vandalism, TCN begins repairs of Abuja transmission line

Three weeks after vandals damaged an underground transmission line near Millennium Park...

Daniel Bwala opens up on his past vociferous criticism of Tinubu’s govt.

Mr. Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications,...

Supreme Court ruling fails to resolve Rivers Assembly leadership crisis

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has clarified that the Supreme Court’s decision...

Nigeria Sees Significant Growth in Non-Oil Exports, Reaching $5.45 Billion in 2024

Nigeria’s non-oil exports have seen a significant boost, reaching $5.45 billion in...

UCH power outage: Minister brokers deal with IBEDC, to restore electricity in 48 hours

Following the Minister of Power, Dr. Adebayo Adelabu’s intervention, the Ibadan Electricity...

Ogun plans large-scale ranching project to boost meat production

Ogun Gov. Dapo Abiodun, has unveiled plans to set up ranching facilities,...

VP Shettima Reaffirms Tinubu’s Commitment to Bridging Financial Gaps, Achieving $1trn Economy

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to economic...

Just in: Supreme Court reserves judgments in 4 Rivers political dispute cases

The Supreme Court has reserved its judgments in four separate cases related...

Edo gov. poll tribunal: Gov. Okpebholo closes defence, calls lone witness

Edo Gov. Monday Okpebholo on Monday in Abuja opened and closed his...

Nigeria’s business sector sees uptick in January, indicating economic recovery

Nigerian businesses kicked off in the new year on a positive note,...