Impacts on Early Emotional Development
The region of the world I
chose to investigate was West and Central Africa. After investigating the region I elected to
focus on the country Guinea. Guinea is
located on the west coast of Africa, its population is approximately 7.5 million with almost half of the
population under the age of fifteen. Guinea
is one of the world's poorest countries. Despite its natural resources and
abundant rainfall, Guinea has low life expectancy, a low doctor-patient ratio,
and a high rate of infant mortality. The country remains largely rural, and 80
percent of the population is involved in agricultural production. Many people
can afford to eat only once a day. Their meals are frequently low in protein,
and many children and adults suffer from malnutrition.
Guinea was one of
countries that was effected by the
worst Ebola outbreak on record, 773 children in Guinea alone have lost both
parents to the disease. And the fate of these grieving kids and those
in other parts of West Africa who were orphaned by the virus, were in jeopardy
when family members abandoned them or refused to take them in due to concerns
that they could spread the disease, which has claimed more than 9,000
lives. According to the aid organization, an estimated 16,000
children in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone lost one parent, both parents or
their primary caregivers to Ebola.
The experiences of these
children watching a parent die, and having to worry about who was going to take
care of them or where they were going to stay no doubt had a tremendous effect
on the children’s emotional wellbeing and development.
As an early childhood professionals, we should all
take the opportunity to help improve child protection services for all
vulnerable children. Become a voice to
address other forms of vulnerability that some of our young children may be
facing on a daily basis.
References
UNICEF (2011). Retrieved
from: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/guinea.html
Hi Sandra,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog post for this week. It was heartbreaking to read about the affects of the Ebola virus on the children of Guinea. I could not even imagine how devastating it would be as a child to lose both parents and then have no one to care for you because they are afraid of contracting the virus. I was reading some of the information about West Africa when I was doing my research on UNICEF for my blog. I learned so much this week about how much UNICEF does for so many people in so many different areas.
Nice job,
Jamie
Sandra,
ReplyDeleteI agree we should all be involved with child protection as educators.This was very tramatic for young children to experience.I am very saddned by the effects of poverty and disease.Thank you for sharing.
Sandra,
ReplyDeleteI too chose the same area to discuss on my blog sight as well. This region has underwent many travesties and I am sure that the children have been the target. One of the sections that I happen to click on says that children could even be attacked due to war tactics in the region. I think it is a shame that some of the children are a target via war tactics.Thank you for your post.
Hello Sandra,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog. While I was reading your blog, it made me think about how we are so lucky and fortunate we are, and how these poor children are so underprivileged in this region. We should always try to advocate for children. I could not even imagine the sadness and heartache of all those children who have suffered from the Ebola Virus. I appreciate you brining awareness to this region. Thank you for your blog, Sandra.