United Nations, in its new analysis of global crises on women, children and adolescent’s health, says that since the start of the global pandemic, 10.5 million children lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19 while approximately 80 per cent of children in 104 countries and territories experienced learning-loss because of school closures due to the pandemic.
In a new report, the UN said there has been a staggering backsliding across women, children and adolescents’ health revealing that COVID-19, conflict, and climate crises had exacerbated setbacks for childhood and adolescent prospects, and women’s rights.
The report, titled Protect the Promise, is published by global partners, including WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) and Countdown to 2030, said Africa remains the only region where the number of children affected by stunting has increased over the past 20 years, from 54.4 million in 2000 to 61.4 million in 2020.