This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
On June 16, 2020, the Ministry of Health issued a clarification on the use of facemasks for children under two years old. According to Dr. Pacifica Onyancha, acting director of Medical Services Preventive and Promotive Health, children under two years old should not wear facemasks due to the risk of suffocation.
Dr. Onyancha explained that children under two years old are very fragile and that wearing a facemask can reduce the supply of oxygen. She also warned that five-year-old children in private spaces, such as in a car or at home, should not wear facemasks to prevent suffocation.
"I just want to make an appeal to the mothers in terms of wearing facemasks. Children are very fragile and I want to say that during this time of Covid-19 children under two years are not recommended to put on facemasks because they actually reduce the oxygen supply," Dr. Onyancha said.
Dr. Onyancha also emphasized the importance of mental health for parents and guardians, urging them to seek psychosocial support if needed. She noted that the Ministry of Health has also focused on immunization of children, which has been affected by the pandemic.
"This includes enhancing the child welfare clinics to make sure the caregiver and children coming with their parents for immunization are able to be attended to without fear of contracting coronavirus," she said.
Dr. Onyancha encouraged women to continue breastfeeding their children even after they test positive for Covid-19, but to take precautions to avoid infection.
