World Vision concerned by trending Covid-19 cases among children, urges more priority to their well-being

 

With latest health reports of increasing number of COVID-19 infection among children, World Vision urges family members especially the parents and adult caregivers to be mindful of the prescribed minimum health standards even while at home to also protect children and prevent viral transmission amidst the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

World Vision, an international child-focused NGO, also expressed its support to all stakeholders in upholding everyone’s welfare especially of children amidst the ECQ and heightened restrictions in selected areas threatened by the more contagious Delta variant.

World Vision National Director Rommel V. Fuerte raised the need for adults to take this development seriously and be aware of children's risks if they remain complacent.

As of August 12, the Department of Health (DOH) records 87,663 active COVID-19 cases, making the overall total number of cases in the Philippines since last year to 1,700,363. Infected children nine years old and below comprise 4% or 65,558 cases while those between 10 to 19 years old represent 7% or 116,035.

Nationwide, the top six most affected regions are the National Capital Region, Region II Cagayan Valley, Region III Central Luzon, Region IV-A CALABARZON, Region VI Western VIsayas and Region VII Central Visayas.

“While there is urgency for adults to be vaccinated, we also call for the government to hasten the testing and immediate availability of safe and effective vaccines for children,” he added.

“Together with our partners, we pray that the global milestones in fighting this pandemic can be realized here in our country as well,” hopes Fuerte, who is also a Board Member of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Recently, a study by World Vision revealed that during lockdowns, children and their households suffer from a significant lack of access to basic health care services, increasing the risk of maternal and child morbidity.

During this pandemic, the child development agency also stressed the need to ensure babies' proper nutrition. World Vision technical program manager for health and nutrition Carleneth San Valentin, underscores the need to promote, protect and uphold the exclusive breastfeeding among mothers, as a practical defense  for infants zero to six months old against dreaded and preventable diseases

“The Implementing Rules and Regulations of laws that support breastfeeding are clearly provided in Executive Order No. 51 or the Philippine Milk Code and Republic Act 11148 or the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-nanay Act”, the Health and Nutrition expert said while warning that breastmilk substitutes that undermine breastfeeding should not be included in the general distribution of emergency food packs.

San Valentin also added that everyone comply with guidelines from DOH Nutrition Cluster Advisory No. 1, Series 2020 which states that family food packs should contain age-and culturally-appropriate, clean and nutritious food items to promote proper nutrition of children.

As stricter community quarantine protocols are implemented, children, based on the same Rapid Assessment, have expressed negative emotions such as sadness, fear and worry. It stated that almost half of the respondent parents and caregivers admitted that they have used physical or psychological punishment to children.

“A number of children are unaware or unsure about child protection services in their communities,” shared World Vision Technical Program Manager for Child Protection Jezreel Domingo, “so we urge the government to activate and ensure the functionality of Violence against Women and Children Desks and Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children, as stated in the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Advisory of April 2020.”

She also said that ensuring the continued functioning of child-friendly reporting mechanisms such as SOS hotlines allow concerned citizens to report any incident of abuse or exploitation.

The Child Protection Expert also reminded community stakeholders to enforce and monitor the DILG-CWC Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2020-001, which provides for the reiteration of protocols on reaching out to children in street situations, in need of special protection, at risk, and in conflict with the law during the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

One of the recommendations of the said study is to also assist families in ensuring children are “in school”, which, for World Vision Technical Program Manager of Education Geomel Jetonzo, is crucial to all Filipino learners’ safe, impactful and sustained education. As most school-aged children and students are now adapting to distance learning mode, it remains imperative that parents and children are made aware of the risks and measures to protect themselves from Covid-19 even while studying at home.

To know more about World Vision and its other initiatives, you may visit www.worldvision.org.ph or follow World Vision’s official social media pages /worldvisionph on Facebook, @worldvisionphl on Instagram, and @worldvisionph on Twitter.

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by its Christian faith and values, it is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. It serves and collaborates with all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

COVID-19 response and emerging challenges for children

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency continues to be an overwhelming challenge in the Philippines as the national government extends the localized general and enhanced community quarantines. However, while the government implements necessary measures to combat the spread of disease, these have brought unintended consequences with significant impacts to children.

In a study conducted from March to April 2020 (Children’s voices in times of COVID-19^[1]), World Vision International consulted 101 children from 13 countries, including the Philippines, to learn about their perceptions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey concluded that the main concerns for children are school disruptions, emotional distress, and increasing poverty.

The study may be accessed here: https://www.wvi.org/publications/report/child-participation/childrens-voices-times-covid-19-continued-child-activism

Temporary school closures, although necessary for their safety during the outbreak, deprive children of opportunities for learning and development. Loss of livelihood due to movement restrictions leaves families with little or no income, and dependent on government subsidy (if available to them). These factors are also causing children emotional distress, as they cope with the “new normal.” 71% of the children consulted by World Vision feel lonely or isolated due to school closures. 91% of the respondents feel emotional distress or are troubled due to isolation or social distancing, and the uncertainty of how long the crisis will last.

It is also alarming that children are also more at risk of sexual exploitation and abuse when quarantine measures trap them with their abusers at home, and as a result of their families’ loss of income. In Cebu, a woman and her live-in partner were arrested for live streaming a girl’s sexual abuse in exchange for money. In Luzon (unidentified city/municipality), seven children aged 7 to 14 were rescued from a cybersex trafficking den. Four of them are the suspect’s own children. These are only two of the rescue operations that occurred since the declaration of community quarantines.^[2]

Almost two months on, World Vision Philippines continues to deliver support for the COVID-19 emergency response. Aside from the provision of supplies and equipment (tents for isolation areas, mobile storage units, personal protective equipment, and disinfection kits) to hospitals and health centers, it has distributed 33.8 tons of fresh vegetables to about 16,178 families to aid in their sustenance. As of May 14, 2020, World Vision has reached over 3 million people through mass media, face-to-face orientation (before the declaration of enhanced community quarantines), and distribution of awareness materials. Moving forward, the organization will keep providing all mentioned above, including cash transfer for 15,000 families, and will support children’s education by developing and providing home learning materials.

Amid these ongoing response measures, World Vision recognizes the need to call on government and other agencies to collaborate in addressing emerging challenges that affect children.

• Ensure social protection measures are in place for the most vulnerable by providing families with both cash and food assistance to meet children’s immediate basic needs. 
• Promote optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and breastfeeding during emergencies, and support programmes that prevent micronutrient deficiencies among children under 5 years old.
• Incorporate mental healthcare or psychosocial support in COVID-19 response initiatives.
• Strengthen and maintain operations of child protection mechanisms, such as child-friendly means of reporting and prompt delivery of services to reported incidents of abuse.
• To address continuity of learning, the government and the media can limit the impact of school closures and education disruption by rolling out child-friendly distance education methods such as TV, radio, or online learning. It is also necessary to consider inclusive alternatives for children who may not have access to the internet and/or electronic devices.
• Finally, we call on government, private sector, and non-government organizations to continue coordination of COVID-19 response efforts, keeping children in the center of it all.

Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, World Vision remains optimistic that together, we can create a better and safer world for children. 

---

[1] World Vision International (2020). Retrieved from https://www.wvi.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/WV-Children%E2%80%99s%20voices%20in%20the%20time%20of%20COVID-19%20Final.pdf

[2] Rappler.com (April 25, 2020). Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/258987-trapped-with-abusers-children-rescued-from-sex-trafficker-luzon

JOINING FORCES ALLIANCE ON THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN - PHILIPPINES

Physical and psychological violence, particularly at home, are among the most pervasive types of abuse experienced by Filipino children. Both can be worsened by the COVID-19 enhanced community quarantine.

In fact, 3 in 5 children have experienced some form of physical violence, the 2016 National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children revealed. Sixty percent of these cases happened in their own homes, with 1 in 2 children experiencing corporal punishment. 

“This disturbing figure can exponentially increase, especially now that parents and caregivers are experiencing added stress,” said Rowena Cordero, Joining Forces Alliance Convenor and Save the Children Philippines Chief of Programs. “Children should be protected from experiencing violence at home. And parents need to be supported in coping with stress and in ensuring that parenting practices respect and uphold children’s rights.”

While the quarantine measures imposed by the government help in controlling the spread of COVID-19, it may also unintentionally expose children to increased protection risks.

The economic, health, and security problems resulting from the pandemic may take its toll on the mental health of parents and caregivers. Hence, they may be unable to effectively manage their stress and frustration. As a result, these adults may resort to using physical, humiliating, and degrading punishment on their children.

To prevent this from happening, we urge the government to:

●        Ensure timely delivery of social protection and amelioration programs.

●        Establish accountability and feedback mechanisms for families and children.

●        Provide mental health and psychosocial support for parents and caregivers, through online platforms or hotlines, in coordination with private groups.

●        Set up hotlines and online platforms where children and the public can send complaints about child abuse cases.

●        Regularly assess child protection risks throughout the COVID-19 response, including disaggregated data of children based on age, sex, and disability.

●        Closely monitor children at increased risk of violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect.

In particular, we call on the Department of Social Welfare and Development to:

●        Activate child protection programs and response and referral mechanisms.

●        Ensure that protection and social welfare services are adequately funded and are central throughout all the stages of the COVID-19 response.

We also urge all local governments to:

●        Set up child-friendly hotlines for reporting and psychosocial counseling.

●        Ensure compliance with the DILG Advisory (2 April 2020) on the activation of the Barangay Violence Against Women (VAW) Desk and the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) during the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

●        Disseminate information by dovetailing informative leaflets in relief distribution i.e., stress management, how to report child abuse, among others.

“The rights of children to be protected from all forms of physical, humiliating, and degrading punishment in all settings should be everyone’s concern, especially of the government,” said Cordero. “As much as we don’t want children to be exposed to COVID-19, we also don’t want them to be vulnerable to any form of violence.”

                

                                                                                             

About the Joining Forces Alliance

The Joining Forces Alliance on the Elimination of Violence Against Children is a global alliance of child-focused international non-governmental organizations. We are advocating for a renewed commitment of governments to achieve the rights of children. We are composed of ChildFund Alliance, Educo, Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages, Terre des Hommes International Federation, and World Vision.

Upcycling, donations sustain fashion industry facemask donation efforts

Fashion designers recently rallied and volunteered to fabricate personal protective equipment (PPE), and donate these to frontliners in the fight against COVID-19. Recently, social media has been abuzz with tutorials, calls for fabric donations, and requests for logistical assistance to get the PPEs to their intended recipients. To address limited materials and manpower, fashion volunteers turned to upcycling.

Upcycling, or the creative use of waste or by-products to produce something that is useful or of value, has helped keep people safe in these trying times. Furthermore, anyone can do it, as upcycling can be done with materials found in your own homes.

On a larger scale, partnerships between corporations and volunteers have also been integral in getting PPEs to the frontlines. One example of such a collaboration is between Pilmico Foods Corporation and Mich Dulce, a well-known fashion designer and founder of the Manila Protective Gear Sewing Club.

Pilmico, the food and agribusiness unit of the Aboitiz Group, will be providing materials, specifically flour sacks, that the Manila Protective Gear Sewing Club may upcycle for their PPE production. The company will be donating the excess flour sacks that were unused in their packaging to the Sewing Club and to other cooperatives who may need them as a base material for their masks.

According to the Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness journal of Cambridge University, masks made with the flour cotton sacks are best used by ordinary citizens who are their respective households’ runners for errands and supply. Another advantage of making these reusable masks is reducing medical waste, as single-use masks should be immediately discarded after use. While unsuitable for high-risk exposure, these masks will address the shortage so that more N95 and surgical masks will be allotted to those who need it more.

"As more data begins to come out about the importance of wearing masks to slow the transmission of COVID19 between individuals, we saw a good opportunity for Pilmico to work with other stakeholders in this fight against the spread of the virus to upcycle our flour sacks and create facemasks that can be used by everyone to keep themselves safer. This should also help to plug the current shortage of PPE's that we are seeing in different parts of the country" said Tristan Aboitiz, Pilmico President and CEO. “Aside from this partnership, Pilmico also continues to provide medical supplies and make food donations nationwide to various frontliner groups. We want to ensure that, especially, during times like this, we are doing what we can to ensure the advancement of the communities we operate in and the various stakeholders therein” he continued.

Currently, Pilmico is also rolling out a Flour Sacks to Face Masks program which aims to provide these raw materials for cooperatives, as well as teach them how to produce the face masks."We have to do what we can to pitch in during times of crisis," Aboitiz urged. “One of those things is to increase the access of Filipinos to tools that make people safer."

About Pilmico

Pilmico Foods Corporation is the integrated agribusiness and food company of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV). Comprised of four divisions: Flour, Feeds, Farms, and Trading, we are well-positioned at the beginning of the value chain. Our businesses add value to one another, and ultimately to our customers; providing guidance, consistency, and results. In its journey moving forward, advancing business and communities is how the Aboitiz Group will drive change for a better world, with Pilmico creating Partners for Growth

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PILMICO.officialpage/

Ayala donates N95 masks for PNP health workers, other front liners

Ayala Foundation, representing AC Health and the rest of the Ayala group, visited the office of P Lt Gen Guillermo Eleazar, deputy chief of operations of the Philippine National Police, yesterday, to turn over 1,000 units of N95 masks for use of health workers and other front-liners of the police force. 

N95 masks are a much-needed resource for health workers, and health workers stationed at PNP-affiliated hospitals and clinics stand to benefit from this donation.

Earlier this week the Ayala group, under the leadership of AC Health and Ayala Foundation, distributed over 10,000 N95 masks for health workers from public hospitals in Manila, Quezon City, Laguna,, and other partner institutions that are working round the clock to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Among the recipients were the Philippine General Hospital and San Lazaro Hospital in the city of Manila; the Philippine Heart Center, the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Quezon City General Hospital, and East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City; the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City; and health workers in the Province of Laguna. 

Said Gen. Eleazar: “Iyong mga ibinigay sa ating face masks ay malaking tulong dahil ang PNP ang nasa forefront na ginagawa ngayong paglilingkod sa bayan.… Ito ay magsisilbi sa aming inspirasyon, knowing that we are being appreciated and being taken care of by organizations na katulad ng Ayala Foundation.” (The N95 masks are a big help, because the PNP is at the forefront of this public service initiative. This will serve as an inspiration to us, knowing that we are being appreciated and taken care of by organizations like Ayala Foundation.)

Gen. Eleazar is the commander of the Joint Task Force composed of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Fire Protection. The joint task force oversees the implementation of the guidelines set by the Interagency Task Force on COVID-19 led by the Department of Health.

Representing Ayala Foundation and the Ayala group were Ayala Foundation President Ruel Maranan and Senior Director for Corporate Communications Cel Amores.

Maranan said: “Sa ngalan ng Ayala Foundation at ng Ayala group, kami ay nagbabahagi ng N95 masks bilang tulong sa ating mga kapulisan. Sana ito’y maging karagdagang proteksyon sa kanilang pagsisilbi sa ating taong bayan.” (On behalf of Ayala Foundation and the Ayala group, we are distributing N95 masks as an assistance to our police force. We hope that the masks will provide additional protection for our police officers and health workers as they serve the public.) 

#

Photo Caption

Police Lt Gen Guillermo Eleazar (center) formally receives a donation of 1,000 N95 masks from AC Health and the rest of the Ayala group, as represented by Ayala Foundation President Ruel Maranan (left) and senior director for corporate communications Cel Amores.

About Ayala Foundation

As the social development arm of the Ayala group of companies, Ayala Foundation envisions communities where people are creative, productive, self-reliant, and proud to be Filipino. Ayala Foundation's main program areas are Education, Community Leadership, Suitable and Sustainable Livelihood, and Arts and Culture.

For more information, visit www.ayalafoundation.org

World Vision urges the world to focus on those who are invisible and most at risk from COVID-19 pandemic

A united global effort is needed to help prevent COVID-19 from having a massive destructive impact on the lives of child refugees, migrants and the very poor, warns aid agency World Vision, as a pandemic is declared by the WHO (World Health Organization).

World Vision health specialists are urging governments not just to focus on the impact of the virus on its own citizens, businesses, travel and trade, but to rally to support war-torn and poverty-affected countries where coronavirus outbreaks will potentially cause misery.

World Vision International president & CEO Andrew Morley warned: “The WHO’s pandemic declaration is a signal for us to work together to scale up the response internationally.  While most countries and citizens will be focused on protecting themselves, we mustn’t forget those - especially children - living elsewhere as refugees, as displaced people and in places where there are few doctors, nurses and hospitals. Our primary concern is for children, many of whom in Asia have already been impacted by loss of family livelihoods, school closures, and health systems under strain.”

World Vision in the Philippines has conducted awareness campaigns on COVID-19 in various rural areas where many families have limited means to get information.

World Vision in the Philippines has conducted awareness campaigns on COVID-19 in various rural areas where many families have limited means to get information.

In the Philippines, World Vision national director Rommel V. Fuerte pointed out how the country has been coping from succeeding emergencies in the past months. “Thousands of people are still reeling from the impact of the multiple earthquakes in Cotabato, volcanic eruption in Taal and typhoon in Bicol. In Marawi and other fragile areas of the country, thousands of children are still displaced. We also remember the children living in poor and highly urbanized areas who are most vulnerable in these times,” Fuerte shared.

“World Vision lauds the coming together of different stakeholders to combat fear and the further spread of the virus and we continue to pray that we will get through this as a country and as a global community,” he added.

World Vision is already hard at work distributing protection equipment and supplies in Asia, where the virus outbreak was first recorded, as well as rolling out health advice and psycho-social support to children, their caregivers, and communities.

“COVID-19 is highly infectious and will spread easily in places where there are unhygienic conditions, crowding, and where health services and monitoring are weak,“ said World Vision International’s head of Health and Nutrition, Tom Davis. “This means that countries hosting high numbers of displaced people where there is a severe lack of doctors, nurses, community health workers and hospitals need special and urgent support.”

While wealthy countries typically have 2-12 hospital beds per 1,000 population, in the poorest countries it is as few as 1 bed per 10,000. There also can be a lack of oxygen, ventilators, and intensive care units. In refugee camps, this kind of medical support is commonly not accessible and death rates from COVID-19 may be higher than the 3.4% reported so far and which come from countries with more advanced healthcare systems.  Infection rates may be higher due to cramped living conditions and poor hygiene, Davis warned.

Davis also warned the domino effect for children could be catastrophic when guardians and income earners fall ill or die creating vulnerabilities for desperate children that range from dropping out of school, to being forced to work, beg or enter the sex trade to survive.  Also, as health systems shift resources to caring for the burgeoning number of adults who are sick with COVID-19, routine child health and nutrition services may be put on hold or under-resourced. 

World Vision calls on all concerned individuals and agencies to support the government-led efforts to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate the risks, and to heed health leaders' constant advice regarding the pandemic.

For more updates and information, like and follow World Vision in the Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit their official website www.worldvision.org.ph.

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by its Christian faith and values, it is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. It serves and collaborates with all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.