Good nutrition is essential to everyone’s survival but it is a particularly critical factor for developing children. It is indeed the foundation of child survival and development so that, coupled with a healthy lifestyle, they could be better able to function, learn, and contribute to society.
Sadly, many children still do not get the nutrition they need to survive and thrive, especially among the poorest and most marginalized children. Today, many countries are facing the triple burden of malnutrition—undernutrition, hidden hunger, and overweight—with concurrent issues of stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies. All of which reflect the state of the country and the condition of the healthcare system, undermining the potential of millions of children to grow and develop to their fullest potential.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and aggravated the pre-existing health crisis of children globally, among many other problems. Children, though less directly affected by the virus, bear the brunt of the indirect effects brought about by the pandemic-induced lockdown, including poor diet, disruptions in lifestyle habits, mental health deterioration, social isolation, screen fatigue, dependency or addiction to screens, lack of learning from online classes or proper schooling, and lack of access to quality health care.
The real impact of COVID-19 on children extends beyond that of a viral infection. This crisis has public health implications that has life-long consequences on children. Action and accountability must lie at the heart of our response to these worsening predicaments. It requires effective measures targeted mainly for vulnerable children, families, and households in order to guarantee children’s basic rights for optimal nutrition, health and development.
Reference:
Nutrition. (n.d.). UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/nutrition#:%7E:text=UNICEF%2FUN0253412%2FPasquall-,Good%20nutrition%20is%20the%20bedrock%20of%20child%20survival%20and%20development,in%20the%20face%20of%20crisis.