Frightening Unicef predictions of possible child deaths
We are alarmed to learn from a Unicef report that Bangladesh could see additional deaths of 28,000 children in the next six months in a worst-case scenario due to the disruption in immunisation, nutrition and other vital health services. The Unicef report revealed the figure quoting a recent study of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. According to the report, the transport crisis during the closure and fear of Covid-19 transmission at health centres are major reasons behind the falling immunisation coverage in Bangladesh. The report also mentioned that being deprived of vital health services due to the Covid-19 pandemic, lives of about 4.59 lakh children and mothers of South Asian countries are in danger while 600 million children in these countries will face the immediate and longer-term consequences of the pandemic.
Bangladesh had an outstanding achievement in conducting regular vaccination programmes and increasing its coverage over the years, which was globally acknowledged. Just last September, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the prestigious Vaccine Hero award in recognition of Bangladesh's success in immunising children. The prime minister at that time expressed hope that the target of "vaccines for all" in the country would be reached well ahead of 2030.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on our public health services as the government struggles to provide basic and essential maternal, new-born, and child health services. The government's immunisation and nutrition programmes have been interrupted due to a serious lack of preparation by the agencies and the healthcare providers concerned. In April, the number of children receiving routine vaccinations dropped by about 49 percent compared to the previous month. While Bangladesh has been grappling with the pandemic, a measles outbreak in Rangamati killed at least 10 children and infected 300 others last April.
Similarly, the nutrition programmes of the government and non-government organisations have also been interrupted during this crisis. It is said that if a child remains malnourished for the first 1,000 days of their lives, from pregnancy to age two, they can suffer from irreversible damage such as stunting and other conditions. Thus, the long-term consequences of the lack of proper maternal care and nutrition programmes on our children will also be huge.
We call upon the government to take urgent action to continue the immunisation and nutrition programmes in full swing while ensuring health safety of the service providers. Additionally, the government should direct more resources towards social protection schemes, including emergency universal child benefits and school feeding programmes, as suggested by Unicef. Only the government's prompt action in this regard can save the lives of thousands of children across the country.
Comments