Hyderabad: The Corona pandemic is affecting the lives, livelihoods, hopes and aspirations of the humanity, and frightening countries by shattering their economies and commercial sectors.
UNICEF has warned recently that the effect of COVID-19 would be dreadful on the future of India.
Last month, the World Health Organization called for a focus on diseases such as Malaria and Polio in the wake of the spread of coronavirus. UNICEF's concern of COVID-19’s effect on children is unveiling a grim picture of the magnitude of the impact of the virus on children.
Due to lockdowns and curfews, the transport system was stand still at many places, jobs were lost, and normal healthcare facilities were unavailable.
UNICEF's concern underlines the fear that due to these the income of the parents will be greatly affected resulting in deaths of children due to malnutrition and starvation. It is projected that an additional six thousand babies will die daily in the next six months in 118 under-developed and developing countries.
It is concerning that India has been included in the list of ten countries -- Ethiopia, Congo, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda, Pakistan, etc., -- with the highest casualties.
This is in addition to those unfortunate children who won't be able to celebrate their fifth birthday.
It is the responsibility of those countries to contain the untimely death of children without proper nutrition and basic medical facilities.
The UNICEF's warning that if corrective steps are not taken in time the situation will further worsen....should alert the hundred and odd countries including India!
Due to the coronavirus crisis, further deterioration in the child healthcare is like falling from pan to fire. A recent joint study by the World Health Organization, UNICEF and The Lancet Journal has declared that in countries like Central Africa, Chad, and Somalia, the child healthcare is very poor. It has ranked India at 131 in a list of 180 such countries.
Despite the government's claim that it is controlling much of the malnutrition situation, there are still seven lakh children we loose every year.
It is time for a critical review of the 'Poshan Abhiyan' – a prime project undertaken to eliminate malnutrition -- and the status of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme in operation for four and a half decades, and plug the loopholes.
Over 130 crore children are currently unable to attend schools in 177 countries.
The number of children deprived of mid-day meals in the schools run into crores. Statistics that nearly 12 crore children in 37 countries are unable to get measles inoculations reveals the extensive risks they are exposed to due to the present pandemic.
Around 40% of children in the country do not have access to vaccines and vitamins.
In this situation, the care taken by the government to stop child mortality will decide the future of the country.
Child welfare is a key element in achieving sustainable human development goals. In addition to maintaining the systems, protecting children, the future generation also is the prime duty and responsibility of the government.
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