Phemelo Motene hosted Professor Lucie Cluver on Point of View.
She co-authored a study published in ‘The Lancet’.
It is titled, “Global minimum estimate of children affected by the COVID-19 associated orphanhood and deaths of caregivers: a modelling study”.
Professor Cluver explains that the the research informs the effect COVID-19 had on orphans globally.
The study shows that an estimate of 1 134 000 children lost a parent or custodial grandparent and 1 562 000 children lost a primary or secondary caregiver.
This happened between 1 March 2020 to 30 April 2021
The number of COVID-19 associated orphans for the period in South Africa is 94 625.
This is the highest recorded orphanhood in Africa.
The study also highlights the importance of vaccinations.
The prioritisation of vaccines will help prevent the premature deaths of parents and are caregivers that result from COVID-19.
For more, click play on the podcast below:
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