The World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with other organisations has released a new book that will help children stay hopeful and positive during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The storybook titled ‘My Hero is You: how kids can fight Covid-19!’, published in April 2020 and released by a collaboration of 60 organisations working in the humanitarian sector, draws on the daily realities of millions of children since the beginning of the pandemic

WHO, Unicef, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the MHPSS Collaborative for Children & Families in Adversity feel that for many the pandemic continues to disrupt their education, recreation, and time with friends, family and teachers.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said as the world collectively weathers the Covid-19 crisis and find its own ways to cope, there is need to strive to safeguard the mental health and well-being of children who continue to grapple with disrupted childhoods.

“The ‘My Hero is You’ storybooks help us to do just that. I encourage parents, teachers and caregivers everywhere to share the sequel to the immensely popular original to help the children in their care build resilience and hang on to a sense of hope for the future,” Dr Tedros said.

“Almost two years into the pandemic, millions of children are still seeing their lives and routines disrupted.

The ‘My Hero is You’ series is an essential and wonderful tool for parents and teachers to help children understand today’s new world and cope with their changing emotions,” Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director said.

According to a statement released Friday, the new story drew from responses to a survey of more than 5,000 children, parents, caregivers and teachers from around the world who described the challenges they continue to face in the second year of the pandemic.

Languages

The book is currently available in Swahili, English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, in his remarks said that the pandemic has profoundly impacted the life and well-being of millions of children around the world, including many living in situations of forced displacement as a result of conflict, violence and persecution.

“In this period of fear, losses and uncertainties for so many children and their caregivers, initiatives such as the ‘My Hero is You’ series can play a crucial role in helping them cope, heal and maintain hope for the future,” Filipo said.

Unesco Director-General, Audrey Azoulay said Covid-19 has separated millions of children from friends, teachers and schools, with devastating socio-emotional consequences.