COVID-19

There have been instances where COVID-19 patients have died due to lack of timely oxygen supply. The second wave of COVID-19 tested the capacity of India's health system in multiple ways as it spread from urban to rural areas. In Gujarat there were shortages of oxygen beds, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and other essential commodities. The…

Highlights May 2021 saw more than three cases per second and nearly three deaths per minute at the height of the surge.   While the epidemic curve is on a downwards trend, the number of cases per day are still close to double of peak caseload in 2020.   India is the third fastest country to administer more than 210 million doses, however, only 14.…

Every parent worries about children getting upset and throwing temper tantrums, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when the majority of us are at home. Understanding and finding solutions to these tantrums doesn't need to be tricky, as our experts share their tips in response to questions about temper tantrums and how to tackle them., Is a temper tantrum normal?, A temper tantrum is an unpleasant and disruptive emotional outburst. It occurs because children are not able to regulate the anger that arises when they are prevented from doing something they want to or are not given something they desire. Temper tantrums are considered a normal part of a child's behaviour from 1.5 to 5 years of age. They occur …, When is a temper tantrum not normal?, If these episodes are more frequent and are disrupting a child's routine and causing harm to a child, it is vital to seek professional advice and redress this behaviour. To provide an appropriate response to a temper tantrum episode, you need to understand the stages of a temper tantrum. A tantrum episode can be divided into three stages, and…, How do I deal with a typical temper tantrum episode?, Stage 1: For screaming, yelling, crying and whining Move: Take the child to a different place. Distract: Young children have a short attention span. Use it and try to distract the child and offer something else. Engage them in a different activity and take the child away from the environment of the tantrum. Negotiate: Provide an alternative to…, What are other things we can do to prevent such episode to happen in future?, We must adopt certain principles to help us respond/manage a child's temper tantrum behaviour. These include disregarding or ignoring the child's attention-seeking behaviour, comforting and soothing and nurturing/comforting the child after the tantrum subsides. Intervening early by distracting and negotiating is also key. As a parent you need to:…

Children are a powerhouse of energy, and their curious mind constantly seeks stimulation. Being restricted indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic is therefore perhaps even harder for children than adults. Many parents struggling with occupational or social stress can sometimes take children being engrossed in digital devices as an opportunity to…, Indian Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Screen Time for children, Children below the age of 2 years should not be exposed to any type of screen with the exception of occasional video call with relatives.   Screen time for children between the age of 2 and 5 years should not exceed 1 hour; the lesser, the better.   For older children and adolescents, - other than online classes maximum of 2 hours. It is important…

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people's mental health across the world. Spending months on end in lockdown, getting exposed to negative news around the clock and losing near and dear ones has had a worrisome impact on mental health. Children and parents are among those who are struggling with issues related to mental health. Parents and…, Can a child get depressed, especially considering the current COVID-19 situation?, People of all ages can develop depression, including children and adolescents. Among children, depression is significantly higher in teenagers than younger children. Adolescence is the transition period from childhood to adulthood marked by emotional instability and rapid physical and social changes, which also create stress. Although depression…, How do I know if a child is depressed?, Some common symptoms of depression among children include: Changes in weight Disturbance in sleep patterns Unusual and persistent sadness or irritability Sudden loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed Sluggishness Lower self-esteem Hopelessness Thoughts of or attempts at suicide Parents must take note of these sudden changes in behaviour…, How can I help a child who is showing these symptoms?, First and foremost, what is needed is to recognize and acknowledge emotions. Acknowledge that the child can feel sad and can be depressed. An initial conversation regarding a child’s concerns/issues can be established by engaging the child in a conversation recognizing and acknowledging the emotions that the child may be feeling Understand the…, When should I seek help from a mental health professional?, Symptoms must persist for at least two weeks for a diagnosis of depression to be made. Also, some medical conditions (e.g. thyroid problems, a brain tumour or vitamin deficiency) can mimic the symptoms of depression so it is important to rule out other medical causes before diagnosing depression. Please be wary of the following and seek support;…

NEW DELHI, 03 June 2021 – UNICEF continues its emergency support to India’s COVID-19 pandemic response by providing additional lifesaving supplies. The first nine of 26 oxygen plants are being installed, and over 4,500 oxygen concentrators and 200 RT-PCR testing machines have already been delivered or are being delivered. As India battles the…

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools across India, as in many parts of the world, were closed in mid-March 2020 impacting approximately 286 million students (48 per cent girls) from pre-primary to upper secondary education. This is in addition to the more than six million children (48 per cent girls) who were already out of school prior…

The second wave of COVID-19 in India has left parents looking for information on protecting their children and the steps to take if their child, or a family member, has symptoms of COVID-19, or tests positive. Experts from UNICEF, together with the The World Health Organization (WHO), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi,…

• Over 900,000 health care facility staff and community health workers trained on infection prevention and control. • 26.2 million pregnant women received iron and folic acid supplementation. • 12.3 million children accessed formal/non formal education including early learning. • Over 400,000 people reached with critical water, sanitation and…

Here are some useful tips that can help you and your loved ones manage and recover from #COVID19. Please share and don’t panic. Let’s also promise to mask up, stay safe and look out for each other during this difficult time.  , NO. 1 , Stay calm and self-isolate   As soon as you feel any symptoms including sore throat, a cough, loose motions or mild fever, isolate yourself immediately. This simple act of caution can save lives and help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Please don’t panic either. Remember that most people recover from COVID-19 and do not require hospitalization.   A…, NO. 2 , Consult a doctor  Reach out to a doctor by phone who can assess your condition and advise you on the best course of action. They might recommend that you stay at home and manage the symptoms, or that you need to go to hospital.  Consult a doctor infographic. Seek medical advice on how to monitor and manage symptoms.  The doctor will tell you if…, NO. 3 , Stay apart   If you have been advised by a doctor to stay at home due to #COVID19, keep yourself away from the rest of the household and stay in a separate room (if possible) with all the essential items you will need for a 10-day stay. This will help protect those in your household from contracting the virus. If it’s an option, self-isolate in a…, NO. 4 , Wear a mask  Make sure that you and anyone else interacting with you in-person is wearing a triple-layered mask that covers the nose and mouth completely. Do not touch the outer surface of the mask or your face.  Wear a mask infographic. Wear a triple-layered mask whenever you open the door.   Those entering your room should also wear a mask.  …, NO. 5 , Wash your hands  You have heard this often and it remains very important to help control the spread of diseases such as COVID-19. Wash your hands frequently with soap or a 70 per cent alcohol-based sanitizer. When you are self-isolating because of COVID-19 and want the room cleaned, please do it yourself with a disinfectant or soap. Utensils and…, NO. 6 , Check your oxygen levels  It's important to keep an eye on your oxygen saturation levels regularly using a pulse oximeter. Put your finger in, press the button and wait to see your oxygen level and pulse rate appear on the screen. Check it every six hours or more frequently if your breaths are coming in too fast. The typical healthy range for…, NO. 7 , Monitor your temperature  Every six hours, use a thermometer and see if you have developed a fever. If you have a fever, check your temperature more frequently to see if the fever is subsiding or increasing. It might be a useful practice to note down the oxygen level and temperatures so it’s easier to keep track.   Monitor your temperature…, NO. 8 , Do tepid sponging  Give yourself a tepid sponge refresh using tap water. Do not use cold water. Ideally, if you are very unwell, have a caregiver or family member available to provide care. The caregiver should wear gloves and a triple layered mask while giving any support.  Do tepid sponging infographic. Do tepid sponging using tap water.  Do not…, NO. 9 , Only have medicines which a doctor prescribes  If you are at home, a doctor may prescribe medicines to relieve symptoms. Do not self-medicate. Home concoctions like garlic, camphor and carom seed (ajwain) bundles cannot improve oxygen levels.   Only have medicines prescribed by the doctor infographic. Take paracetamol (500 mg) every four to six…, NO. 10 , Trust verified information only  Do not fall for false information from unverified sources. You should never self medicate, only take what the doctor prescribes you.   View this post on Instagram A post shared by M/o Health and Family Welfare (@mohfwindia), NO. 11 , Stay hydrated and eat well  Drink enough water and eat nutritious meals even if you are unable to smell or taste them. There is no food known to treat or cure COVID-19 but eating healthy meals loaded with nutrients is useful to help your body recover.   Stay hydraded and eat well infographic. Drink lots of water and eat nutritious meals.  It’s not…, NO. 12  , Rest, relax, rest, relax  Your body and mind both need to rest and relax when you have COVID-19. Resist the temptation to doomscroll on social media and instead spend your time reading books, watching TV shows and films, listening to music, and having calls with your loved ones. Rest and relax infographic. Distract yourself with books, TV shows…, NO. 13  , Look out for danger signs  When you or a loved one are isolating at home due to a COVID-19 diagnosis and your doctor’s advice, look out for warning signs that indicate the need to immediately go to hospital and seek emergency medical intervention. Look out for danger signs infographic. Seek emergency medical care in any of these cases:   Oxygen…, NO. 14 , Practise proning if oxygen level is low  If a person’s oxygen level drops below 94 per cent and medical attention is not imminently possible, proning at home is advised as an effective breathing aid.   Avoid proning for an hour after meals. Maintain proning for only as many times as it feels tolerable. One may be able to prone for up to 16 hours a…, NO. 15 , Continue COVID-appropriate behaviors  To prevent #COVID19, all of us have to continue wearing masks (the correct way), washing our hands frequently with soap, maintaining a distance of two meters, staying home and isolating if we have symptoms and getting vaccinated. Together all of these steps will be the weapon that helps us fight this pandemic…, NO. 16 , Take care   It is a tough time and all emotions worrying about yourself or your loved ones are valid. What can help is making sure that we are there for each other and stepping up to protect those around us. ❤️   View this post on Instagram A post shared by UNICEF India (@unicefindia)

It’s a difficult time for everyone in India. We are sharing these tips for anyone who is COVID-19 positive or has symptoms. Please share them with those around you. Animated icons are shown demonstrating the actions, such as washing hands with soap.

As India sees an increase in the absolute number of COVID-19 cases across the country, children, including infants, are at greater risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. With this new situation comes many questions, from both parents and doctors, about protecting from and caring for children with COVID-19. Pediatric experts from AIIMS New…