Care and Protection of Children in Covid-19

A change in anything affects children first. COVID-19 has brought major crises which have impacted millions of
population. It becomes more severe for the children who fall under the category of need of care and protection,
significantly. Children who are institutionalised are being protected and facilitated with health, education and
other basic needs during the global pandemic. On the other hand, those children who are left on roads, streets and
hidden places become more traumatised. They face cumulative trauma. Normal was not enough for the children
even after COVID-19. Children who face the worst circumstances in their childhood, they develop the victimhood
thinking pattern and accordingly they look at themselves, hence they keep growing in this direction of life.
COVID–19 has brought complex multiplicity and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of mental health
problems in children such as anger, fear and hopelessness. UNICEF report shows behavioural symptoms among
children grouped by age under 5 years, between 5-10 years and 10-19 years of children (UNICEF, ). Hence, it is
important to seize the learning for the future pandemic when dealing with the children.