THE PLANLESS PLAGUE: COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND RIGHT OF THE CHILD TO HEALTHCARE

Abstract

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by surprise. The various countries' determination to end the rampage of the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about these countries adopting strict measures to handle the situation. Some of the steps taken have created a clog on the children's rights to access healthcare as prescribed by the local laws of such countries and essential international laws. This paper is not an attempt to look at COVID-19 on all fours but to focus on the child's right to healthcare in some selected jurisdictions especially during the pandemic. The paper examined the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the right of the child to healthcare, the responses of the Nigerian government, and the lapses in the children healthcare system especially when juxtaposed with what obtains in jurisdictions such as China, UK and US. The paper adopted the doctrinal methodology through the examination of the opinions of authors and extant statutes. The paper further recommends the establishment of national health indicators and monitoring mechanisms that would monitor the implementation of the sustainable development goals, which sees the right to health of children as a right that every child must enjoy. The paper also focused on modalities for strengthening and enforcing children's right to healthcare in selected jurisdictions post-COVID-19 and in preparation for other unforeseen pandemics.