Unicef warns that the Covid-19 pandemic could undo decades of progress in the fight against infant mortality. The United Nations Children’s Rights Organization is therefore demanding urgent investment to restore disrupted health systems and services.
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A survey in 77 countries found that 68 percent of countries reported some disruption to child health checks and vaccination services. For example, there is less control over the health of pregnant women and babies, there is too little vaccination and less attention is paid to pre- and postnatal care. In addition, many families are afraid of contracting the corona virus during a doctor’s visit and therefore stay at home. The problems are greatest in Afghanistan, Bolivia, Cameroon, Libya, Madagascar, Pakistan, Sudan and Yemen.
Figures from UNICEF and WHO show that in 2019 the number of deaths of children under the age of five fell to 5.2 million, the lowest level ever. In 1990 there were still 12.5 million infant deaths. But the corona crisis could cause nearly 6,000 extra children to die every day.
Need action
UNICEF therefore calls for urgent action and investment in childbirth services and pre- and post-natal care for mothers and babies. In addition, the organization wants more skilled health workers to care for mother and child at birth. Unicef also insists on good cooperation with parents to allay their fears of infection and reassure them.
“The global community has gone too far in eliminating preventable infant mortality for all of this to be nullified by Covid-19,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF president. “If children and mothers are denied access to health services and if women are afraid of giving birth in hospital for fear of infection, millions of children under the age of five, especially newborns, are at risk of death.”
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