World Vision concerned by trending Covid-19 cases among children, urges more priority to their well-being

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With the latest health reports of an increasing number of COVID-19 infections among children, World Vision urges family members especially the parents and adult caregivers to be mindful of the prescribed minimum health standards even while at home to also protect children and prevent viral transmission amidst the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

World Vision, an international child-focused NGO, also expressed its support to all stakeholders in upholding everyone’s welfare especially of children amidst the ECQ, and heightened restrictions in selected areas threatened by the more contagious Delta variant.

World Vision National Director Rommel V. Fuerte raised the need for adults to take this development seriously and be aware of children's risks if they remain complacent.

As of August 12, the Department of Health (DOH) records 87,663 active COVID-19 cases, making the overall total number of cases in the Philippines since last year to 1,700,363. Infected children nine years old and below comprise 4% or 65,558 cases while those between 10 to 19 years old represent 7% or 116,035.

Nationwide, the top six most affected regions are the National Capital Region, Region II Cagayan Valley, Region III Central Luzon, Region IV-A CALABARZON, Region VI Western VIsayas and Region VII Central Visayas.

“While there is urgency for adults to be vaccinated, we also call for the government to hasten the testing and immediate availability of safe and effective vaccines for children,” he added.

“Together with our partners, we pray that the global milestones in fighting this pandemic can be realized here in our country as well,” hopes Fuerte, who is also a Board Member of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Recently, a study by World Vision revealed that during lockdowns, children and their households suffer from a significant lack of access to basic health care services, increasing the risk of maternal and child morbidity.

During this pandemic, the child development agency also stressed the need to ensure babies' proper nutrition. World Vision technical program manager for health and nutrition Carleneth San Valentin, underscores the need to promote, protect and uphold exclusive breastfeeding among mothers, as a practical defense for infants zero to six months old against dreaded and preventable diseases

“The Implementing Rules and Regulations of laws that support breastfeeding are clearly provided in Executive Order No. 51 or the Philippine Milk Code and Republic Act 11148 or the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-nanay Act”, the Health and Nutrition expert said while warning that breastmilk substitutes that undermine breastfeeding should not be included in the general distribution of emergency food packs.

San Valentin also added that everyone complies with guidelines from DOH Nutrition Cluster Advisory No. 1, Series 2020 which states that family food packs should contain age-and culturally appropriate, clean and nutritious food items to promote proper nutrition of children.

As stricter community quarantine protocols are implemented, children, based on the same Rapid Assessment, have expressed negative emotions such as sadness, fear and worry. It stated that almost half of the respondent parents and caregivers admitted that they have used physical or psychological punishment to children.

“A number of children are unaware or unsure about child protection services in their communities,” shared World Vision Technical Program Manager for Child Protection Jezreel Domingo, “so we urge the government to activate and ensure the functionality of Violence against Women and Children Desks and Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children, as stated in the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Advisory of April 2020.”

She also said that ensuring the continued functioning of child-friendly reporting mechanisms such as SOS hotlines allow concerned citizens to report any incident of abuse or exploitation.

The Child Protection Expert also reminded community stakeholders to enforce and monitor the DILG-CWC Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2020-001, which provides for the reiteration of protocols on reaching out to children in street situations, in need of special protection, at risk, and in conflict with the law during the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

One of the recommendations of the said study is to also assist families in ensuring children are “in school”, which, for World Vision Technical Program Manager of Education Geomel Jetonzo, is crucial to all Filipino learners’ safe, impactful and sustained education. As most school-aged children and students are now adapting to distance learning mode, it remains imperative that parents and children are made aware of the risks and measures to protect themselves from Covid-19 even while studying at home.

To know more about World Vision and its other initiatives, you may visit www.worldvision.org.ph or follow World Vision’s official social media pages /worldvisionph on Facebook, @worldvisionphl on Instagram, and @worldvisionph on Twitter.

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by its Christian faith and values, it is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. It serves and collaborates with all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

World Vision highlights child protection and peacebuilding in the Marawi Week of Peace

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Child-focused NGO World Vision Development Foundation conducted a series of child protection and peace-building activities during the celebration of the Marawi Week of Peace, spearheaded by the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.

World Vision provided school bags, notebooks and pens with learning materials promoting child protection to at least 1,679 students from five public schools.

In partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Ministry of Basic Higher Technical and Madaris Education and the Marawi Operation Center, World Vision also conducted mental health and psychosocial support activities for 90 parents and 60 children.

Rommel V. Fuerte, World Vision’s National Director in the Philippines shared, “It has been a great honor for us to work with TFBM, the city government of Marawi, and all government agencies and partners towards building back a better Marawi, where children can thrive and fulfill their dreams”. Fuerte encouraged everyone to achieve hope, joy, and justice for all children.

To help families augment their daily food needs, promote nutrition, and maintain good health especially of children, World Vision also distributed 400 packs of vegetable seeds such as eggplant, pechay, okra, and string beans to supported barangays.

Handwashing facilities were also constructed in five World Vision-assisted communities, including one that was launched opened during the Week of Peace in an effort to also fight the COVID-19 pandemic through access to water and hygiene facilities.

It has been four years since World Vision started its emergency and recovery response and other child-focused programs to complement the government’s efforts and assist thousands of affected civilians and displaced families in the aftermath of the violent city-wide armed clash which massively devastated Marawi in May 2017.

World Vision, globally, also observes the United Nations’ World Refugee Day to celebrate the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home countries or displaced internally, to escape conflict for safety and protection. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.

Currently, World Vision implements two projects namely the Urban Child Protection Project and the Marawi Peace and Protection Project-Phase which promotes peacebuilding among the youth, education, child protection in schools and the communities among others. Both projects aim to cover a total of 12 barangays with 6,800 children as target beneficiaries.

About World Vision

World Vision is a global Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

World Vision and its Partners continue in their legacy of changing the lives of the most vulnerable children

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As the Philippines welcomed another year, most Filipinos are anxious to see what the future holds. With everything the country experienced last 2020, a lot of people are doing their best to make the coming year different. Some have decided to make resolutions and pursue new opportunities, but for others, it is to continue the legacy of changing lives.

World Vision, together with its partners, continues the mission of helping the most vulnerable children and their communities led by its vision of seeing thousands or even millions of kids reach fullness of life. 

Through its campaign “A New Year of Firsts”, World Vision invites their sponsors to empower a child by enabling him or her to experience powerful and life-changing moments of firsts such as, for the first time a family could eat until they were full, a village could have clean water, a child could have all she needs to continue going to school, and a child could feel safe and protected.

First Bountiful Harvest 

For 14-year-old Karie, life was a series of hunger and fear of starvation – made worse with the onslaught of COVID-19. Yet, it was during this period that Karie and her family experienced a miracle she never imagined possible. 

For the first time ever, she could wake up without worrying if there was enough food to eat. On the contrary, they had enough food to last them through the endless days of lockdown, even after the pandemic stripped the family of their only source of income.

With the seeds World Vision provided them and with training in sustainable farming techniques, for the first time, Karie’s backyard was home to a flourishing vegetable garden – a gift that could change her life for good. 

The Legacy of Firsts

World Vision Philippines has been helping children and their families out of poverty worldwide for over 60 years. With child sponsorship, children and their communities receive an opportunity for a better future. 

“You don’t have to be rich to sponsor a child. All you need is the desire to be a bearer of hope”, shared Mae, a child sponsor through World Vision for 10 years.

Child sponsorship is not only making a difference in the lives of World Vision assisted communities, but is also transforming their donors as they experience a series of beautiful firsts with their sponsored children.

“We are deeply grateful to all our partners for reaching out to the most vulnerable children. God first loved us so we are able to show kindness to others. This year, may we be encouraged to help transform the lives of children and their families through child sponsorship”, said World Vision National Director Rommel V. Fuerte.

To know how you can become a child sponsor, visit www.worldvision.org.ph/sponsor-child/. 

You may also follow /worldvisionph on Facebook and @worldvisionphl on Instagram to know more about World Vision’s work in the Philippines.

About World Vision 

World Vision is a global Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. 

OPPO, Save the Children Philippines Provides Support to Public School Students for Online Distance Learning

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OPPO, in partnership with international children’s organization Save the Children Philippines, has recently completed the turnover of 100 brand new sets of OPPO A12e smartphones, Rock Space Torch Bluetooth Earphones, and special online learning kits to select students from public schools in Navotas City, namely Tanza Elementary School, Tanza National High School, Bagumbayan Elementary School, and Navotas National High School.

Save the Children Philippines’ turnover of donations to the recipients in Navotas City.

Parents attended to claim the A12e smartphones, Rock Space Torch Bluetooth Earphones, and online learning kits.

 

 Filipinos on Online Distance Learning

Securing better access to online distance learning is challenging, especially for those who have lesser means to provide for themselves. This is a common concern among the parents and students of Teacher Claudine of Tanza Elementary School, a Special Education (SpEd) teacher with six years of experience. 

“Nagka-virtual orientation kami ngayon kung paano mangyayari ang modular learning…You really have to do everything and explore all means. Hindi ito normal na may problema lang, may pandemya kasi,” Teacher Claudine shared. “Sa SpEd [students] kasi they need immediate feedback. Kailangan din nila ng individualized na approach. Pero ang parents hindi sila trained to do that. Kung hindi ganoon ka-strong ang foundation and follow-up sa bahay, magiging malaki ang regression.” she added.

Teacher Claudine’s students were some of the selected recipients of the OPPO A12e smartphones and Rock Space Torch Bluetooth Earphones for online distance learning which are useful tools in helping the SpEd students to get the attention and support needed while doing online classes.

Another true experience was shared by Nanay Rosalinda and her daughter Filchriz, who has been diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay. Filchriz is one of the recipients of the OPPO A12e and online learning kit including pencils, pens, crayons for her art classes. “Hindi man niya masabi na miss niya ang school, minsan kapag pinalabas siya dumidiretso [sa daan] papunta sa school,” said Nanay Rosalinda. At home, she mentioned that they do not have a table for Filchriz to study while doing the online classes but the family is doing their best to provide what they could for her to continue classes despite the pandemic situation.

Aside from the smartphone and Bluetooth earphone donations, OPPO and Save the Children also set up a fundraising initiative through the Back-To-School campaign, which started last August. The effort resulted in funds to purchase more online learning kits for other students in need. Each learning kit includes art materials and basic safety and sanitation kits, like alcohol and face masks, for the kids.

“With the joint efforts of OPPO, Save the Children Philippines, and the kind-hearted Filipinos who have participated in this fundraising initiative, we were able to extend help to students most in need of support. We are optimistic that together we can do more for everyone if we continue to band together and lend a helping hand to each other as we overcome these trying times,” OPPO Philippines Marketing Director Raymond Xia.

To learn more about the latest news and programs of OPPO, visit the official website at www.oppo.com/ph or via official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.

 

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Good nutrition is an important at every age. Nutrition is a top priority during the toddler years. Young children need proper nutrients to grow up healthy and strong.

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It's very important for parents to make sure that their children always have a well-balanced diet that have the right vitamins and minerals.

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Knowledge Channel ready to work with gov't in distance learning

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As the government shifts to distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Knowledge Channel is ready to share its video lessons that could reach as many as 7.6 million students, a huge portion of the 27 million expected to enroll this school year.

“Knowledge Channel is prepared to work with the government. We have created and acquired more than a thousand video lessons, all based on the K - 12 curriculum of the Department of Education and these are ready for use,” Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI) director for operations Edric Calma said. 

For 21 years, KCFI has developed and acquired multimedia educational materials that public schools nationwide, especially in remote regions used to enhance teaching and learning. They are aired over Knowledge Channel and used for instruction by KCFI-trained teachers and are also designed for home-based learning. Before ABS-CBN went off the air on May 5, Knowledge Channel aired over SKYcable, SKYdirect, ABS-CBN TVplus, and other cable and direct to home satellite TV providers, reaching millions of students. 

According to Calma, KCFI has developed into video format 50% of the most essential learning competencies (MELC) that DepEd requires to be taught for the school year, and that KCFI can easily develop the remaining 50%. 

Knowledge Channel’s method of using TV technology has proven to improve the performance of children in school. Studies conducted by the DLSU La Sallian Institute for Development and Educational Research and the UP Statistical Center for Research Foundation's Impact Study for Proficient Measures for Quality Education revealed that children who were taught using Knowledge Channel video lessons performed better in tests. 

“The most essential learning competencies are the minimum curriculum-prescribed skills that students must acquire,” Calma said.

Calma stressed that the 21st century DepEd curriculum is about understanding and creating designs, systems and processes, unlike in the past when students were just required to memorize. 

“Subjects like mathematics and the sciences involve understanding of processes, and they need to be visually illustrated for kids to understand,” he said, adding “with this kind of curriculum, we need TV.” 

Calma said that Knowledge Channel’s multimedia resources also teach kids critical thinking. 

“Children’s critical thinking and creativity are triggered by video lessons because we challenge them with questions at the beginning, halfway through and at the end of the episode,” Calma said.

Alice Panares, who sits in the board of the National Council for Children's Television, said that the government is faced with the near-impossible task of training a 900,000-strong teaching workforce to teach students using media before the August opening of classes. 

To address this problem, Panares suggested that Knowledge Channel be tapped at the very onset of the distance learning program. 

“While the teachers are being trained, why not tap first the lessons of Knowledge Channel since it already has existing materials,” Panares said, adding that “Knowledge Channel has done a very complete work in educating the students in different areas.”

Panares said that Knowledge Channel is ready with the different subjects that are already in the form of TV lessons made for different grade levels. “I’ve watched many of the lessons and they are ready for airing for the DepEd,” she said.

KCFI president and executive director Rina Lopez Bautista appealed that KCFI be given the chance to share with the government its expertise for the sake of the children. 

Lopez Bautista said, “We believe that learning must continue for all and that no child should be left behind. We appeal to our lawmakers and the Filipino people to recognize ABS-CBN’s contributions to education and that ABS-CBN is granted a new franchise so that we can again reach the children no matter where they are in the Philippines. The Knowledge Channel Foundation continues, and will be working to continue to be in the service of Filipino children.” 

Make healthy habits fun for your with kids with Colgate Baby Toothbrush and Toothpaste, available at Shopee!

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Teach your little ones as early as now the importance of great oral care! As the years go by, the whole family can grow up smiling together.

Choosing The Best Toddler Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Toddlers are pretty easy to please. They like anything that looks cool of any kind. But even more than that, you need to pay attention to how the bristles feel because if they’re painful in any way, you’ll have a fight on your hands when you try to convince your baby to brush the next time around.

If you want to make sure your baby’s pearly whites stay, well, pearly white, then it’s a good idea to get him or her used to an oral-hygiene routine — even before any teeth arrive. 

When it comes to the type of toothbrush parentss hould use for babies and toddlers, with a small brush head and soft bristles, which are better for tiny mouths and sensitive gums. Most dentists advise using fluoridated toothpaste with whatever brush you ultimately choose.

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World Vision and Shell Foundation distribute tons of fresh vegetables in Metro Manila and CDO

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World Vision Development Foundation (WVDF) today provides 16,800 kilos of vegetables to the residents of Quezon City, Malabon City, Manila City and Cagayan de Oro City, four of the hard-hit cities under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Children and communities receive fresh vegetables and other relief goods from donors of World Vision Philippines

In collaboration with Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), the child-focused organization packed and distributed fresh vegetable packs containing okra, sayote, cabbage scorpio, wombok, potatoes, squash, eggplant, onion, garlic, tomatoes, bitter gourd, string beans, carrots and chili pepper to 5,750 households and 60 frontliners in Quezon City, Malabon City, Manila City and Cagayan de Oro City. 

PSFI’s Ani Para sa Bayani (translated Harvest for Heroes) project aims to help struggling small farmers sell their produce and to also ensure that frontliners and the vulnerable communities have access to nutritious foods. 

"Nutrients in vegetables could help strengthen our body's immune system to fight diseases including COVID-19. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables," shared Carleneth San Valentin, World Vision's technical manager for health. 

Staff and volunteers of World Vision Philippines pack and distribute tons of fresh vegetables to Quezon City and Malabon City

San Valentin explains that while we continue to implement interventions on COVID-19, programmes that address undernutrition and malnutrition especially among children under-5 years old in the country, whether nutrition specific or nutrition sensitive, need to continue. 

Nanay Nerissa, a mother of two from Malabon City shares that since the implementation of the extended community quarantine, his husband is not able to drive his pedicab and even get extra work and earn a living because they cannot go out. She adds “Umaasa kami ngayon sa paminsang minsang kita dito sa ulingan. Mahirap din para sa dalawang anak ko na bata pa, 10 at five years old dahil kung walang kita, sa relief lang kami umaasa.” (We are currently relying on the irregular income from selling charcoal. It is especially difficult for my two young children, 10 and five years old, while we do not have a stable source of income, we rely on relief goods.)

Her 10-year old son Ric, who is a World Vision sponsored child says he misses going to school but since classes are suspended, he sometimes helps his mother repack charcoal aside from cooking rice and cleaning the house.

PSFI Executive Director Sebastian Quiniones Jr. says, "This pandemic is allowing all to show the best of humanity, especially during this season of Lent where we are commanded to love one another. We at PSFI have always believed in the power of unity and collaboration, and this successful partnership with World Vision and Filipino farmers has manifested that." While the collaboration begins by supporting farmers in Luzon and assisting vulnerable communities in Metro Manila and Cagayan de Oro City, the organizations hope to extend their collaboration to other areas in need of assistance.

"Thanks to Pilipinas Shell Foundation for partnering with us in sending much needed help to families especially their children affected by COVID-19. We pray that God will continue to bless you even more as you generously give back to our communities," World Vision national director Rommel V. Fuerte said.

As of today, World Vision has provided 458 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits catering to 2,140 frontliners. It also helped install nine (13) tents to be used as isolation and triage areas for COVID-19 referral hospitals in Metro Manila, Misaims Oriental, Pangsinan and Bicol Region and two (2) huge mobile storage units each with an area of 320 sq meters for the Quezon City Risk Reduction and Management Council and Office of the Civil Defence. At least 2,000 families have also received sanitation kits that include bath soaps, alcohol, toothbrushes for children and adults, toothpaste, face mask and mouthwash. World Vision has also reached over 1.4 million people nationwide on awareness raising on COVID-19 including infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.

In a recent advisory, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) gave the go signal to local governments to use a portion of their development fund to address the threat of the pandemic, which includes the provision of food assistance and relief goods for affected households.

Meanwhile to slow down the spread of COVID-19, the Philippine government has extended the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to May 15, 2020.

Child rights organizations call for the prevention of physical and humiliating punishment against children during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Physical and psychological violence, particularly at home, are among the most pervasive types of abuse experienced by Filipino children. Both can be worsened by the COVID-19 enhanced community quarantine.

In fact, 3 in 5 children have experienced some form of physical violence, the 2016 National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children revealed. Sixty percent of these cases happened in their own homes, with 1 in 2 children experiencing corporal punishment. 

“This disturbing figure can exponentially increase, especially now that parents and caregivers are experiencing added stress,” said Rowena Cordero, Joining Forces Alliance Convenor and Save the Children Philippines Chief of Programs. 

“Children should be protected from experiencing violence at home. And parents need to be supported in coping with stress and in ensuring that parenting practices respect and uphold children’s rights.”

While the quarantine measures imposed by the government help in controlling the spread of COVID-19, it may also unintentionally expose children to increased protection risks. 

The economic, health, and security problems resulting from the pandemic may take its toll on the mental health of parents and caregivers. Hence, they may be unable to effectively manage their stress and frustration. As a result, these adults may resort to using physical, humiliating, and degrading punishment on their children.

To prevent this from happening, we urge the government to:

● Ensure timely delivery of social protection and amelioration programs. 

● Establish accountability and feedback mechanisms for families and children.

● Provide mental health and psychosocial support for parents and caregivers, through online platforms or hotlines, in coordination with private groups.

● Set up hotlines and online platforms where children and the public can send complaints about child abuse cases.

● Regularly assess child protection risks throughout the COVID-19 response, including disaggregated data of children based on age, sex, and disability.

● Closely monitor children at increased risk of violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect.

In particular, we call on the Department of Social Welfare and Development to:

● Activate child protection programs and response and referral mechanisms. 

● Ensure that protection and social welfare services are adequately funded and are central throughout all the stages of the COVID-19 response.

We also urge all local governments to:

● Set up child-friendly hotlines for reporting and psychosocial counseling.

● Ensure compliance with the DILG Advisory (2 April 2020) on the activation of the Barangay Violence Against Women (VAW) Desk and the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) during the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

● Disseminate information by dovetailing informative leaflets in relief distribution i.e., stress management, how to report child abuse, among others.

“The rights of children to be protected from all forms of physical, humiliating, and degrading punishment in all settings should be everyone’s concern, especially of the government,” said Cordero. “As much as we don’t want children to be exposed to COVID-19, we also don’t want them to be vulnerable to any form of violence.”

About the Joining Forces Alliance

The Joining Forces Alliance on the Elimination of Violence Against Children is a global alliance of child-focused international non-governmental organizations. We are advocating for a renewed commitment of governments to achieve the rights of children. We are composed of ChildFund Alliance, Educo, Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages, Terre des Hommes International Federation, and World Vision.