Provide primary health care for street children

Back to school means health safety for children in the Philippines during a COVID-19 crisis.

As Childhope Philippines continue its mission of promoting children’s rights and helping to provide the urgent basic necessities of street children, the organization is running a back-to-school health information campaign to keep kids safe from COVID-19 infection. The campaign will teach their schooled-children beneficiaries how to wash their hands properly, wear masks safely and etc. while they are traveling to and from school.

Poor children are more likely to suffer from the consequences of the COVID19 outbreak.

Since the pandemic, life circumstances have become more difficult for many families due to unemployment and low income levels. As more people work outside the home, children are increasingly left alone, leading them to be vulnerable at large when they are out in public areas. These factors have led to an increase in child neglect cases across the country.Unfortunately, street children are not getting much needed support to continue their education and are also left out from health prevention campaigns during this crisis. Our recent study shows that about 48 percent of street children had respiratory illness but only 40% sought medical attention because of misinformation due to lack of health campaign.

Primary healthcare sessions for street children and youth.

It's important to understand the importance of health care and how it affects your life. This session will empower street children by providing them with knowledge and some easy to follow guidelines on protecting their own health. Childhope Philippines just recently add in their primary health sessions the COVID-19 Prevention module as a health prevention campaign for their street children and youth clients who will be back to school this next school year. The project aims to teach and provide children with accurate information through a fun and creative learning materials and sessions using the KalyEskwela mobile vans.

Moreover, Childhope Philippines’ KliniKalye Mobile Health Project Officer, Dr. Carpio, listed safety precautions to help children keep safe in school.

1. Get vaccinated.
2. Always wear your mask properly, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated areas of your school. Do not remove your mask even while inside the toilet. Minimize touching your mask, except to adjust it to cover your mouth and nose.
3. Maintain physical distancing, especially during recess and lunch breaks when you need to remove your mask to eat or drink.
4. Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands with soap and water, or disinfect with alcohol if it is available. Avoid unnecessarily touching surfaces in common areas. Wash or disinfect your hands after using something shared or borrowed.
5. If possible, avoid sharing things such as pencils, ballpens, and combs. If you need to borrow, disinfect the item before using it, and disinfect it again before returning it. If you lend an item, disinfect it once it is returned to you.
6. Minimize touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.
7. If you have any symptoms related to COVID-19, stay at home and consult a doctor or ask assistance from your barangay. If you get symptoms while in school, inform your teacher immediately and follow the school protocol. Symptoms of COVID-19 include ANY of the following: cough, colds, itchy or sore throat, difficulty breathing, fever, chills, headache, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, and loss or decrease in sense of smell or taste.
8. Stay healthy to better fight an infection. Avoid unhealthy food. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep. Practice good hygiene. Take vitamins if available.

Aside from empowering street children by teaching them how to keep themselves hygienic at all times during this pandemic, Childhope Philippines has other ways to combat the malnutrition, mental health issues, and health concerns borught by the pandemic. The organization has been providing daily meals and snacks to students who have been without proper nourishment since schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic through KalyenDeria Mobile Soup Kitchen and #DeliveringHope Project. Childhope Philippines also offered psycho-social support carried by their social workers and other health services such as medication distribution, referral assistance, and consultations under the KliniKalye Mobile Health Clinic.

You can help us in advocating for the healthcare of street children and ensure their health and safety at school.  Your support is more important now than ever before because it will ensure that street children will not be forgotten especially in times of crisis. Let’s all work together to create safe school environments that foster learning. Make an impact on the lives of children in need by volunteering or supporting our cause through donations.