Infectious diseases
like COVID-19 can have a detrimental and long-term impact on children in the
countries where ChildFund works, communities that are already vulnerable
because of poverty.
The COVID-19 pandemic is
not only threatening the physical health and wellbeing of children and
families, but the hard-fought development advances of the past 20 years. There
is a real risk that many communities will back-slide into extreme poverty.
Below we detail why children and families living in poverty need your help more than ever.
1. Children and families living in poverty are less able to absorb the shocks caused by the global response to
COVID-19.
Most of us are experiencing the ripple effects of COVID-19 long before we know someone who gets the virus. For children and their families living in poverty, those ripple effects can be devastating and last a lifetime.
Many low-income jobs involve a lot more interaction with the
public and a lot less stability. Parents working in a local market selling
goods, for example, are at a higher risk of being exposed to the virus. If the
market closes to encourage social distancing, they lose their source of income and,
without unemployment benefits, will no longer be able to provide for their children.
A worsening economic situation for families already living in poverty can lead to increases in child labour, child marriage and other child protection issues. The psychological stress on many families is enormous, with many parents losing work and facing an uncertain future. Sadly, this has been accompanied by an increase in domestic violence, with children both experiencing or witnessing abuse in their homes.
Despite being a diagnosable and curable disease, malaria remains a global health issue. In 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported 228 million cases of malaria, resulting in 405,000 deaths globally.
In order to stop the spread of malaria, there are a number of tried and tested strategies that can be implemented. Here are some of the best ways to prevent the spread of disease.
Increase access to mosquito nets
Mosquito nets are one of the most effective and cheapest ways of preventing malaria transmission. The female Anopheles mosquito, which transmits malaria, mostly bites at night. Therefore it is vital for people to be protected while they sleep to prevent mosquito bites and the consequent spread of malaria.
A mosquito net works by providing a protective layer to stop an infected mosquito from getting in close contact with a person and biting. This is a simple solution, however for families in remote or rural communities, access to mosquito nets can be difficult.
Improve diagnostics and treatment in vulnerable communities
As a disease that can be easily treated, access to healthcare is vital in fighting this disease. If not diagnosed or treated early, malaria can be fatal, particularly in infants and young children. Improving the diagnosis rate and availability of treatment within rural communities is pivotal to preventing the spread of disease.
At ChildFund, we believe that everyone should have access to quality healthcare, and are working to improve access for vulnerable children and families.
Provide a nutritious diet to strengthen children’s immune systems
Nutrition is vital to keeping any child healthy, as it helps the body fight infection and disease. Unfortunately, many families living in rural communities have low household incomes, and can’t always afford the optimal variety of food required to build a healthy immune system.
ChildFund works in partnership with rural health clinics to deliver child and maternal health programs directly to parents. This includes providing advice on child nutrition, preventable childhood disease, and child development. When coupled with growth monitoring, it is possible to spot the signs of malnutrition in children early, and before it has a lasting impact on their health. These programs play an active role in keeping children healthy and preventing malnutrition in the first place.
Educate parents and community leaders on how to prevent malaria
Educating parents and community leaders about malaria is an effective way to help stop the spread. This knowledge empowers adults with the knowledge they need to take the preventative measures, identify cases of malaria early, and understand when to seek professional healthcare and treatment.
At ChildFund, our focus is on implementing programs which prioritise the health, wellbeing and resilience of children, to ensure more children survive and thrive.
You can help prevent the spread of malaria
Increasing the availability of mosquito nets in affected communities is absolutely essential to reducing rates of malaria infection. Ensure a child can sleep safely throughout the night by donating a mosquito net today.
