The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have called on African governments to consider ways to open schools in the event of the COVID-19 pandemic.          Â
They said the delay in opening schools was a major setback for students and called on governments to take precautionary measures such as water and soap to curb the spread of the disease among students.              Â
Both UN agencies say students face the threat of malnutrition and girls being thrown into a frenzy that could lead to pregnancy because the time they spend living at home is nothing.
“School is a protection for children,” said Matshidiso Moeti, executive director of the World Health Organization in Africa.
Only six African countries have opened schools, according to a WHO and Unicef ​​study of 39 countries.
Some countries have reopened schools but closed them following an increase in coronavirus infections.                     Â
Some countries also open schools only for students writing high school graduation exams.
