India, like the world, is gearing up to protect its children from the next wave of COVID-19
Children are the last human frontier COVID-19 threatens to engulf. The second surge has seen quite a number of children infected. Even deaths have been reported, including one of a day-old infant in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Most of these patients were asymptomatic or with mild symptoms; they recovered within a week. A small percentage of cases needed hospitalisation and intensive medical care. India, like the rest of the world, is now gearing up to prepare to save children in the next surge, whenever that is. Lessons from the first two surges have chastened the Government and steps are already afoot to provide separate neonatal and paediatric wards in hospitals. Contingency measures are on for oxygen, monitoring equipment, ventilators and medicine. Medical and paramedical staff are undergoing re-orientation to handle young patients. Bharat Biotech of Covaxin fame is also ahead of the curve in coming up with a vaccine for the two to 18 age group. In fact, it has got approval for stage 2 and 3 human trials already. With 40 per cent of the population in this age group, vaccination becomes imperative. But tackling child COVID-19 is a matter not merely of logistics. It will be fought largely in the arena of the mind; a seesaw between the panic of parents and patience of doctors.
For instance, the question is: Are the hospital wards children-friendly? If a discernible part of the scarcity of beds and oxygen in the second surge was owing to panic among adults, imagine what parents can go through if their children become infected. Rationality will become scarce. The social media will press a panic button of its own, mostly of the illegal variety. Should the location and names of the infected children be revealed on social media posts for help? Should pictures be circulated? How will these violations of privacy be checked? There are many NGOs handling awareness campaigns to keep children safe. Apart from safety measures, there is the need for a healthy diet, mental agility and physical exercise, particularly when schools are closed and they are stuck at home. But what about the rural areas? Nearly half of the population below 18 lives in the countryside. There are issues with hygiene, availability of potable water and nutritious diet. Malaria, dengue and pneumonia are rampant. A large section of the rural parents is aware of their responsibilities, but hands of most would be tied by their economic situation. As yet, no data shows that the third surge will affect children, but it is equally important they be immunised. It is more important to inoculate their parents first. Both medical workers and parents need to realise that most children may not be able to recognise COVID-19 symptoms; how then to diagnose at the earliest? A beginning has been made, but it has to be seen to be real. The UNICEF web advisory on child protection, for example, is begging updation since September 2020.