Children born during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as Flora, face profound challenges as they turn five. Born on the same day the pandemic was declared, Flora’s early experiences highlight the impact of health and educational disruptions. The pandemic has hindered medical checkups and caused extended school closures, posing risks to their development.
Flora, a child born on March 11, 2020, uttered the word “stretcher” intending to say “mask,” reflecting her understanding of her parents leaving home while wearing one. Her first birthday was celebrated intimately, with only her paternal grandparents and a few family friends present, as the pandemic loomed large over daily life.
During March 2020, approximately 250,000 children were born in Brazil amidst the somber backdrop of nearly 4,000 daily COVID-19 deaths. The pandemic has profoundly affected these children, particularly during their formative years, which experts describe as a critical “window of opportunity” for development, according to Mariana Luz, CEO of the Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal Foundation.
The impact of the pandemic extended beyond mere illness; it disrupted essential medical checkups and vaccination schedules while school closures led Brazilian students to be out of school for an average of one and a half years, a longer interruption than experienced in many other nations. Such disruptions have raised significant concerns regarding the long-term effects on children’s health and education.
In summary, the pandemic has created lasting challenges for children like Flora, born at its onset. The intimate nature of her first birthday underscores the isolation many children faced, while widespread disruptions to health care and education systems during their formative years raise alarms about their future development. These critical early years, deemed essential for growth, have been significantly compromised in Brazil and beyond due to COVID-19.
Original Source: www1.folha.uol.com.br
