Letters | Coronavirus pandemic: impact on Hong Kong children is a pressing concern

The United Nations published a report two months ago that said, “While children are not the face of this [Covid-19] pandemic, its broader impacts on children risk being catastrophic and among the most lasting consequences for societies as a whole.”

We at Viva, an international children’s charity, work on the front lines of this challenge, in Hong Kong and around the region. One of our most pressing concerns at the moment is food security. We’ve seen food being destroyed as it was cheaper to do this than send it to Hong Kong.

For a city that prides itself on its economic success, it might surprise some readers to know that there are many families in Hong Kong struggling with food insecurity. What they might also not realise is that there is a psychological dimension to this, as well.

A Canadian study into the impact of food insecurity shows a lasting impact on the mental health of children as they move into adulthood. Indeed, there is something to be said for parents who ensure their children eat well, as it is linked to reducing the chance of suffering from depression later in life.

We know well that it is one thing to get kids fed, and another to ensure their home life is not destabilised at the same time. As such, we at Viva are engaged in leading a six-week family strengthening programme. We hope that, through programmes like this, we can help families find ways together to overcome some of the incredible challenges they are facing as the city recovers from this terrible epidemic.