COVID-19 and it's negative impact on the Nigerian Child by Chidera Iguh

COVID-19 AND IT'S NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE NIGERIAN CHILD

The COVID 19 crisis is a serious impediment to the rights of a child.

Children are being deprived of their fundamental right to education.

It also poses great threat to their rights to life and freedom, because they can't even go out to play or have fun in the neighbourhood.

Most of them don't eat as much as needed or even healthy anymore because the source of income of many parents between middle-class and below has been seriously hampered and injured; their parents or guardians can't meet to their basic needs anymore because they are out of work or don't have the resources to do so.

This COVID-19 pandemic is likely to cause an emotional imbalance to these children and even physical harm.

The Nigerian Child and her counterpart worldwide is the most hit of the global health emergency, as their curriculum is under siege, schools are being shut down and no access to learn and further in their educational pursuit during these months of lockdown.

I have a friend who is meant to be in Canada now for her studies but can't go because the world is shutdown; I'm afraid she might lose a full year or may even totally forfeit her admission.

The pandemic is really a dangerous occurrence to our children; to the rich and the poor.

But more pathetic for the poor because it does not only fringe on their educational rights but access to good food and healthy living.

I want to plead to the Nigerian Government to provide the necessary relief materials like food stuffs, medical facilities, water supply and every other necessary basic amenity to ameliorate the present condition and cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for Nigerian families that dont have access to the aforementioned.

We can't turn blind on what's good for our kids because of the pandemic; I urge the government at all levels to do what is right and save as many Nigerians as possible. Let us drop our political ambitions aside, party difference and come together as a people, as a Nation, United to defeat this virus in our space.

To an endnote, I stand in solidarity with every single Nigerian, every family, and every one-child, this too shall pass.

It is my prayer that God keep our children and none of us shall be missing during this era of a global crisis.

VONG is a child borne in search for equipping the Nigerian populace, utilizing every resources within her disposal to ensure a fair, healthy, wealthy and progressive society.