IPA Statement at 74th World Health Assembly, Agenda 14 Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 16 Committing to Implementation of the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health (2016−2030)
The International Pediatric Association (www.ipa-world.org) believes that our actions forward should be centered on Women's, Children's, and Adolescent Health as vulnerable groups deeply affected by COVID-19. This issue should be a priority given that even before the pandemic, it is noticeably shown that progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) does not comply with targets initiated.
Since COVID-19 emerged around the world, it has been generating multiple impacts on routine antenatal care, immunization, and basic health services which have been severely disrupted as women and children fear to seek medical care when needed. Essential health services have been 'halted' and not prioritized, resulting in the potential sharp increases in maternal and infant mortality rates, disruption of TB, malaria, and vaccination programs, especially in low-middle income countries that have long struggled with both poor health and nutrition indicators. Ergo it is compulsory for governments to address the severe long-term fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
As an advocate for children's rights, IPA is moreover profoundly concerned with another critical aspect of SDGs threatened by COVID-19, the quality of education for our children. Children's health and safety as well as cognitive and behavioral advancement should not be an either/or option. We are obliged to empower schools, families, and communities to ensure the continuity of high-quality education during pandemic. The education system should guarantee equal opportunities and access to every child, as well as ensuring that every child has adequate knowledge of COVID-19; therefore, they will be able to implement the COVID-19 health protocols independently.
IPA urges member states to call for multisectoral collaboration, where healthcare delivery and education are bolstered by the use of information and technology and community-centered social healthcare promotion. Through collaboration with WHO and UNICEF, we have played our part by developing and hosting webinars to educate pediatricians and community members in ensuring safe care for mothers, newborns, and children; including sharing best practices across regions. Further efforts to protect their rights to health should then be strengthened by government policies, as well as close monitoring from health professional organizations.
