About 2,28,000 maternal and child deaths took place in south Asia due to the disruption caused by Covid-19, according to a new report by the United Nations.
The report looked at Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It stated that these deaths have resulted from crucial services including immunisation programs and nutrition benefits being halted.
The report added that child mortality rose the highest in India in 2020, followed by Bangladesh. The UN report predicts that an additional 5,943 deaths could occur among adolescents who were unable to receive treatment for diseases like Malaria and TB.