Rays of hope for 2021
This time last year we were getting the first reports of a new deadly respiratory infection in Wuhan, China. As we mark the end of 2020 it is hard to look beyond the suffering, disruption, and economic dislocation triggered by Covid-19. The world before lockdowns and endless hours of Zoom meetings feels like another age. But it is now critical that we learn the lessons of the last year, look at the evidence, and work together to make 2021 a year of recovery.
Covid-19 has been a very visible public health crisis for adults but some of the deepest scars will be carried by children. The early warning signs are clearly visible. Child poverty is rising, along with malnutrition. Recent modelling work points to a potential surge in child mortality as major diseases like malaria and pneumonia go untreated. With 500 million children still out of school, and many more returning to under-funded education systems, the pandemic has created perfect storm conditions for an