This paper is about the effects of covid-19 pandemic on food & nutrition of schoolchildren. While there appear to be fewer cases of COVID-19 among children (and symptoms are generally milder), national responses to the pandemic can have significant implications for child nutrition and educational outcomes. School disruption and closures around the world will have a negative impact not only on children’s right to education, but also on other human rights, such as their right to adequate food. During the pandemic, more than 350 million schoolchildren in countries with nationwide and localised closures may not have access to regular school feeding and nutrition services. Adequate nutrition is critical for the health and well-being of schoolchildren. Many of the children who benefit from school feeding programmes may already be malnourished, vulnerable, or at risk. Various countries have used a variety of strategies to maintain modified school feeding services as much as possible, often focusing on the most vulnerable. When designing a specific large-scale national response to COVID-19, ensure that the food and nutrition needs of vulnerable schoolchildren are taken into account. Models for ensuring the delivery of Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation, as well as deworming, should be investigated in addition to the continuation of school feeding.
