Health

As schools reopen, it’s important that precautions are taken both inside and outside the classroom to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This article aims to support teachers with information and tips on: Physical distancing at school Practicing health and hand hygiene   Cleaning and disinfecting tips for the classroom   Actions to take if a student…, Physical distancing at schools, When it comes to physical distancing, it is important that you establish some classroom ground rules in accordance with the procedures established by your school’s administration, as well as the protocols established by your respective country’s Ministry of Health and/or local health bodies and authorities. Recommended measures include: Maintain a…, Health and hand hygiene, Teachers have a critical role to play in ensuring students understand the precautions they should take to protect themselves and others from COVID-19, and it is important you lead by example in the classroom. Handwashing is one of easiest, more cost efficient and effective way of combating the spread of germs and keeping students and staff healthy…, Cleaning and disinfecting, Information on how to maintain the cleanliness and sanitization of your classroom. Daily cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and objects that are touched often, such as desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, hands-on learning items, taps, phones and toys. Immediately clean surfaces and objects that are visibly soiled. If surfaces or…, Actions to take if one of your students appears to be sick, Identifying COVID-19 symptoms The most common symptoms are fever, cough, and tiredness. Other symptoms can include shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, confusion, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and skin rashes.   School…

Provision of water and sanitation plays an essential role in protecting human health during all disease outbreaks, including during Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks. This “Key questions and answers concerning water, sanitation and hygiene during Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks” document, jointly developed by WHO and UNICEF in 2014 and…

01 September 2021 Masks help stop the COVID-19 virus from spreading, but that doesn’t make them easy to introduce to children, as many parents have been discovering. The practice of wearing a mask to reduce the transmission of germs has a long history in some countries. But for many families, 2020 will be remembered as the first time putting on a…, Why wear a mask or face covering?, One of the main ways that COVID-19 spreads is through respiratory droplets that people expel when they talk, sing, cough or sneeze. While research is ongoing, we now know that the virus can be spread by people not showing symptoms, meaning some people can be contagious and not even realize it. That is one of the reasons why physical distancing is…, What type of mask should I get for my family? , Non-medical masks (also called fabric masks or face coverings): If you and your family live in a place where COVID-19 is widespread and don’t have any COVID-19 symptoms, then non-medical masks are recommended. Medical masks: Medical masks are in short supply globally because of the pandemic. They are recommended if you or a family member is at a…, What type of fabric mask is best?, Fabric masks or face coverings come in a wide variety of materials and can be something you make at home or buy in a store. While research into the use of fabric masks is ongoing, their effectiveness depends on the types of fabric used and the number of layers. The World Health Organization recommends three layers made up of: an inner layer of…, What about face shields?, Face shields help provide eye protection, but are not the same as masks when it comes to protection from respiratory droplets. However, for those who have difficulties wearing a non-medical mask (people with cognitive, respiratory, or hearing impairments, for example), face shields can be considered as an alternative. If you choose to use one,…, Can wearing a mask make me sick?, While wearing a mask can be uncomfortable sometimes, it does not lead to CO2 intoxication nor oxygen deficiency. If you are wearing a medical mask, be sure it fits correctly and that it is tight enough to allow you to breathe normally. Do not re-use a disposable mask and always change it as soon as it gets damp. When wearing a fabric mask, make…, When should my family wear a mask?, Check to see if your local authorities require you to wear masks in certain settings and for any age-specific recommendations where you live.  Whether your children should wear a mask depends on a number of factors, including their age and ability to safely and appropriately use a mask.  > Jump to Is it safe for children to wear masks If COVID-…, When shouldn’t you wear a mask?, Masks should not be worn by anyone who is unable to remove the mask without help, including infants and young children, or anyone having difficulty breathing. If you or a family member has a health condition or disability that makes it difficult to wear a mask, check with your doctor for advice on what is best for you.  When exercising, choose a…, How to clean a fabric mask, Wash fabric masks using soap or detergent, preferably in hot water (at least 60 degrees Celsius) at least once a day. If machine washing, use the warmest appropriate setting for the type of fabric. If handwashing, use hot, soapy water. After washing, the mask should be dried completely before being worn again. Store masks in a clean bag., Is it safe for children to wear masks?, Based on an expert review of COVID-19 and transmission in children, and other factors such as children's psychosocial needs and developmental milestones, WHO and UNICEF advise the following: Ages 0-5 UNICEF and WHO recommend  that children aged 5 years and under should not be required to wear masks. This is based on child safety and recognizes…, How should children wear masks?, Children should follow the same principles as adults for wearing masks: Children should clean their hands for at least 20 seconds if using an alcohol-based hand rub, or at least 40 seconds if using soap and water, before putting on the mask Make sure the mask is the right size to cover the nose, mouth, and chin  Children should be taught how to…, What should I look for when getting a mask for my children? , Many masks are designed for adults and won’t fit children properly. If you are buying masks, choose one that is appropriately sized for your child. Whether you are buying or making masks for your children, check that they cover their mouth, nose and chin, and don’t have any gaps on the sides or block their vision. Make sure they can breathe…, Will wearing a mask protect my child at school?, The use of masks by children and adolescents in schools should only be considered as one part of a strategy to limit the spread of COVID-19. For information on age-specific recommendations for mask wearing, please see ‘ Is it safe for my child to wear a mask? '. WHO recommends several measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools and to…, How to wear a mask correctly , COVID-19 how to wear a mask correctly Correctly wearing, removing and caring for a mask is important to protect your health and those around you. Practice following this checklist with your family to turn it into a routine. When putting on a mask Always start by washing your hands with soap and water before putting on a mask.  Make sure the mask…, Talking to your children about masks, The COVID-19 pandemic has upset family life around the world causing stress, anxiety and sadness. Understandably masks may add to such feelings for many children, especially in places where they are not used to wearing masks. For younger children in particular, mask wearing can be confusing and upsetting.  If your family hasn’t worn masks before,…

ITURI, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 24 August 2021 – UNICEF is increasingly concerned about the impact on children of a resurgence of Bubonic plague in the eastern province of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. New research, supported by UNICEF, in three health zones of Ituri shows that children are especially at risk of…

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 15 July 2021 --- 23 million children missed out on basic vaccines through routine immunization services in 2020 – 3.7 million more than in 2019 - according to official data published today by WHO and UNICEF. This latest set of comprehensive worldwide childhood immunization figures, the first official figures to reflect global…

MONROVIA, Liberia – The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a devastating toll on countries around the world, straining health systems , disrupting children’s education and leaving millions of families struggling to make ends meet. And it is also having additional knock-on effects that are putting children’s lives at risk, including in Liberia. Liberia…

Gavi, UNICEF and partners collaborate on nationwide introduction, which will see all children from the age of two months protected from pneumonia by 2022 The country has received 1.6 million doses of the vaccine procured through the Gavi Pneumococcal Advanced Market Commitment mechanism Anuradha Gupta : “Congratulations to the Government of…

These brochures highlight the key results for maternal, newborn and adolescent health, immunization, child health, HIV and AIDS, and primary health care that are outlined in the 2020 Global Annual Results Report for Goal Area 1. Alongside the results for these critical areas of UNICEF’s programming are videos and human-interest stories that…

PANAMA CITY, 27 June 2021 - "UNICEF welcomes the first United States Government donation of COVID-19 vaccines via COVAX’s dose-sharing mechanism, arriving today in Honduras, and calls for more largescale vaccine donations, in particular to hard-hit Latin America and the Caribbean. "With only less than 62,000 Hondurans reportedly fully vaccinated,…

Lead is a highly poisonous element that is responsible for nearly 1.5 per cent of annual global deaths – almost as many deaths as from HIV and AIDS, and more than from malaria. Nearly a third of the world’s children – up to 800 million children – are affected by lead poisoning. Lead affects a child’s developing brain, causing decreased…, 1.    Lead is everywhere, Children can be exposed to lead in various places. It can be found in many consumer products, like water pipes, paint, food cans, spices, cosmetics and traditional medicines. Harder-to-see sources include air, water, food, toys and even the mud children play in. Lead is also used in industries such as mining and battery recycling. Unborn children…, 2.    Lead exposure is hard to detect, One challenge in detecting childhood lead poisoning is that it is hard to observe and recognize. At low to moderate levels of exposure, there are typically no symptoms or physical signs apparent to a clinician. At moderate to high levels of exposure, children may complain of a variety of non-specific symptoms, such as headaches, insomnia,…, 3.    Lead affects children more than adults, The potential negative effects of lead are far greater for children than for adults. A child’s brain grows fastest during the early years of childhood, when thousands of neural connections are made every second. Lead exposure can substantially interfere with this complex, important and delicate process. Infants and young children absorb about 4-5…, 4.    Lead impacts growth outcomes, Lead exposure can create learning disabilities and challenges that affect children’s executive functioning, impulse control and levels of aggression. These conditions are often irreversible and, studies find, may impact the likelihood of learning and behavioral difficulties, violence, and crime in adulthood. On a broader scale, all of these…, 5.    Even a little means a lot, Lead is a potent neurotoxin that, even with low-level exposure, is associated with a reduction in IQ scores, shortened attention spans and potentially violent and even criminal behaviour later in life. Children under the age of 5 are at the greatest risk of suffering lifelong neurological, cognitive and physical damage, and even death, from lead…, 6.     Poorer children are at greater risk, It is often the poorest children who are the most severely affected by lead exposure. This is because they are likely to live in areas where exposure risks are higher, such as in places where informal lead-acid battery recycling and smelting operations are more common, near hazardous waste recycling facilities, or in homes that still contain lead…, 7.     Prevention is the best cure, Unfortunately, there is no known safe level of lead exposure, and lead poisoning is difficult to cure. Once lead has been in the body for a prolonged period of time, it is very difficult to remove, as it is frequently deposited in bones and teeth. By this point, much of the neurodevelopmental damage has already been done. , Childhood lead poisoning needs an urgent international response, The potential negative effects of lead poisoning can create irreversible damage for children. With prevention as the only effective way to stop the damage caused by lead poisoning, we must act now. Pure Earth, Clarios Foundation and UNICEF launched the Protecting Every Child’s Potential (PECP) initiative in October 2020. PECP recognizes that…

UNICEF’s 2020 Annual Report underscores how 2020 was a year like no other. School closures, increased vulnerability to abuse, mental health strains and loss of access to vital services have hurt children deeply. But not all children have been affected equally. The pandemic has exposed deep inequalities that have existed for too long, with the…

GENEVA/KATHMANDU, 25 May 2021 - “The scenes we are witnessing in South Asia are unlike anything our region has seen before. Family members of patients are carrying oxygen cylinders inside hospitals, risking their own lives in hopes of saving a loved one. Exhausted health workers are working sixteen-hour days, unable to pay individual attention to…