COVID-19 in Africa: Is Lockdown More Dangerous Than the Virus?

In every region of the world, COVID-19 has turned everything upside-down and inside-out. For many people, the pandemic is compounding all the other stressors and survival issues they face on a daily basis, with detrimental consequences to children and families. In Africa, the question has to be asked whether lockdown may be more dangerous to children than the virus itself.

In this webinar, Dr. Joan van Niekerk, child rights consultant and past president of ISPCAN, and Edith Kriel, executive director of Jelly Beanz, a South Africa-based NPO, will share the experiences of children living in under-resourced countries. Overarching strategies to respond adequately to these challenges will be addressed, including what children need to deal with the emotional consequences of the pandemic. As caregivers, communities, and child protection professionals, we all need to find effective ways to address the potential of a decades-long mental health impact.