Pan-African Parliament is concerned about effect of pandemic on children
MIDRAND – "The pandemic has also revealed the cracks in our health systems and has reminded us of the need for new strategies to improve healthcare provision during pandemics and beyond," says doctor Raji Tajudeen.
Members of the Pan-African Parliament (Pap) have been urged to advocate for the protection of children whose vulnerability is further increased by the exceptional circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The parliamentarians held an online meeting on 16 September, discussing the impact school closures, overstretched healthcare systems, heightened food insecurity and risks of exploitation are having on children as they have been affected by the ongoing health crisis.
Jeffrey Onganga, media officer at the Pan-African Parliament said that evidence has proved the extent to which the global economic crisis caused by Covid-19 has had on the fiscal position of all governments, with a high risk of a decreasing in the budget set aside for the most vulnerable, including children.
“In the light of this, the Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust recently convened a virtual dialogue on ‘Fair financing and tax justice for children, in the light of Covid-19.’ The webinar sought to discuss how equitable resource allocation, spending and effective taxation can help to address the effects of Covid-19 on children,” Onganga explained.
Honourable Chief Fortune Chirumbira, vice president of Pap said in his opening remarks that parliaments have a critical role to play in ensuring equitable distribution of resources to guarantee that children are cushioned from extreme poverty, also pointing out that growing economic vulnerability for children experiencing extreme poverty further exposes them to more abuse, forced child labour, child marriage and child trafficking.
“Pap is at the forefront to call upon governments to mobilise and distribute resources that promote the survival and learning of children. The harmful effects of this pandemic will not be distributed equally,” said Charumbira.
“These effects are expected to be most damaging for children in the poorest countries, and in the poorest neighbourhoods, and for those in already disadvantaged or vulnerable situations. The pandemic will push more households into monetary poverty. This is where fair taxation is critical as it ensures fair allocation to programmes focusing on our youth.”
Africa’s Centre for Disease Control doctor Raji Tajudeen said during the webinar that the pandemic has disrupted routine health services with millions of infants at risk of missing out on receiving life-saving vaccines.
“An additional 124 000 children could be infected with HIV if prevention services are disrupted for six months. Covid-19 has impacted food security and it is expected that 36 million children may go hungry this year,” he said.
“Children, of all ages, are being affected by the socio-economic impacts resulting from the Covid-19 mitigation measures. The pandemic has also revealed the cracks in our health systems and has reminded us of the need for new strategies to improve healthcare provision during pandemics and beyond. We, therefore, look to parliamentarians to lead in this area.”
Onganga concluded that a few children, selected from different parts of the African continent, unanimously told African parliamentarians that there is need to involve children in the solution, through consultation, dialogue, dissemination of child-friendly and accessible information about Covid-19 as well as resources to help them cope with their current situation.
Details: Pan-African Parliament media officer Jeffrey Onganga 011 545 5307.
