Global Health Forum
5:00 pm-6.00 pm Tuesday 20 October
Zoom link: https://unimelb.zoom.us/j/94507515503?pwd=bFl3Tks2VzY3NzBJRmFMQnIyaVpqUT09
Password: mcgh2020
In May 2020 international modellers predicted that indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could cause in excess of 2 millions deaths of children under 5 years of age globally over 12 months. Since SARS-CoV-2 itself rarely causes severe disease in children, this prediction was modelled on anticipated indirect impact of the pandemic on routine health services, health service utilisation and underlying contributors to poor child health including extreme poverty and nutrition. Months on from these grim modelling projections, what is known now about the measured impact of the pandemic on child mortality in low- and middle-income countries where the majority of the world’s children reside? And what data are there about other adverse effects such as those on mental health, child development, trauma, abuse and neglect? Crucially, what can be done to prevent mortality and morbidity among the world’s most vulnerable children?
This webinar will explore these questions with a focus on emerging data from Bangladesh and Nepal and particularly explore the role of child health research in informing policy and programs during the pandemic.