Covid-19 poses risk to progress made in child mortality
Six critical months into the pandemic, yet it remains far from over. A report recently published warns that while the number of under-five deaths worldwide dropped to its lowest point on record last year—down to 5.2 million from 12.5 million in 1990—Covid-19 could disrupt health services and eliminate decades of hard-won advancements made in preventing child mortality. The outcome of our overwhelmed healthcare system has resulted in denial of adequate healthcare services to pregnant women as well as children, while exacerbating fear and anxieties in expecting mothers. Another report, published in June 23, states that according to Unicef, the lives of about 4.59 lakh children and mothers in South Asian countries are in danger as they are deprived of vital health services due to the coronavirus. It further stated that in the worst-case scenario, Bangladesh alone could see additional deaths of 28,000 children in the next six months due to the disruption of immunisation, nutrition and other vital health services.
Due to resource constraints, our overburdened health facilities are unable to provide the required health checkups, vaccinations, etc. A Unicef survey conducted across 77 countries found that almost 68 percent of countries reported at least some disruptions in health checks for children and immunisation services. In addition, 63 percent of countries reported disruptions in antenatal checkups and 59 percent in post-natal care. Meanwhile, families battling poverty are no longer prioritising prenatal and post-natal care. In May, initial modelling by Johns Hopkins University showed that almost 6,000 additional children could die per day due to disruptions due to Covid-19.
Such statics are worrying, to say the least. If we allow these numbers to climb through the charts, then what good was all the hard work, determination and progress we have made thus far in battling child mortality? The government, in coordination with its development partners, should identify the key challenges in ensuring health checkups, vaccinations, and prenatal and post-natal care to the most vulnerable of communities, and take urgent steps to rectify the gaps. If we fail to address this emergency, then the future of an entire generation may well be lost.
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