The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have stated that the prolonged closure of schools aimed at preventing students from Covid-19 was harming them in other ways, urging African governments to promote the safe reopening of schools while taking measures to limit the spread of the contagion.
Development Diaries understands that the impact of prolonged closure of schools is tied to poor nutrition, violence against children, and underage pregnancies.
According to UNICEF, the rates of violence against children in Eastern and Southern Africa are up, while nutrition rates are down, with more than ten million children missing school meals. For girls, especially those displaced or living in low-income households, the risks are even higher.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said, ‘Schools have paved the way to success for many Africans. They also provide a safe haven for many children in challenging circumstances to develop and thrive.
‘We must not be blind-sided by our efforts to contain Covid-19 and end up with a lost generation. Just as countries are opening businesses safely, we can reopen schools.
‘This decision must be guided by a thorough risk analysis to ensure the safety of children, teachers, and parents and with key measures like physical distancing put in place’.
To ensure that schools are safely reopened, the WHO, UNICEF, and the International Federation of Red Cross have issued guidance on Covid-19 prevention and control in schools.
The guidance includes recommendations for physical distancing measures such as staggering the beginning and end of the school day, cancelling school events that create crowding, spacing desks when possible, providing handwashing facilities, wearing masks, discouraging unnecessary touching and ensuring that sick students and teachers stay at home.
The WHO and UNICEF also recommended handwashing, daily disinfection and cleaning of surfaces, and environmental cleaning and decontamination.
For schools that lack water, sanitation, and hygiene services, the WHO and UNICEF called for a quick solution to this problem.
Source: United Nations
Photo source: Andy Simonds