ILOILO City – Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected almost 2,000 children in Western Visayas – a small but growing share of the region’s virus tally.
As of Oct. 28, children of all ages made up 11 percent or 1,859 of the 16,480 total confirmed cases in Region 6, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed.
Dr. Daphynie Teorima, head of the Family and Child Welfare Section of DOH-6, said these figures were a big concern. She underscored the importance of wearing facemasks, hand-washing, social distancing, and other precautions.
According to Teorima, the case fatality rate for COVID-19 in the region is 2.3 percent while for children, it is only .25 percent.
She explained that the viral illness predominantly affects older age groups, with children and young adults being generally more resilient.
Nonetheless, COVID-19, according to Teorima, has adverse repercussions on children.
These indirect, downstream implications include delays in the provision of healthcare such as immunization and consulting when the child is sick.
Mothers affected with COVID-19 have also concerns with breastfeeding.
“The child could have distressed during the pandemic such as having lost connection with friends. Also, they might have economic insecurities such as their parents losing jobs, having sick family members and having unstable home life,” Teorima said.
She also noted that based on the World Health Organization (WHO), the top five major disruptions of health services due to COVID-19 include dental services, rehabilitative services, routine immunization, non-communicable disease diagnoses and treatment such as hypertension and family planning.
In immunization for instance, Teorima said there is a decrease in terms of immunization coverage during the COVID-19 in almost all countries in Asia including Philippines.
As part of the policies and interventions, Teorima said there is continuous provision of health services such as antenatal and post-partum care services and essential “intrapartum” and newborn care especially promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, routine immunization for children, women and child protection services, management of malnutrition and micronutrient supplementation, among others.
Teorima also laid down several interventions to keep children healthy during the pandemic.
These include teaching and reinforcing everyday preventive actions such as washing hands, wearing masks, avoid close contact, cover coughs and sneezes.
It is also important for the child to have healthcare visits.
Teorima was among the resource persons during virtual regional kickoff celebration of the 28th National Children’s Month hosted by Iloilo City.
The celebration was themed “Sama-samang Itaguyod ang Karapatan ng Bawat Bata sa Panahon ng Pandemya.”/PN
