THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), originally known as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, has said that Covid-19 has put pregnant women and newborns in the most vulnerable situation in Bangladesh. Shortage of skilled manpower, including doctors and midwives, and equipment are being faced at healthcare centres during the birth of children as various precautionary measures such as lockdowns and curfews have been enforced in different countries in order to stem the spread of coronavirus.
The UN agency also projected that around 2.4 million newborn babies will see the light in Bangladesh and around 116 million children will be born around the globe till March 2021.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated Bangladesh positions ninth in the world in terms of the birth of children in the first nine months since the declaration of the epidemic on March 11 last year. Maternal and neonatal access to healthcare has declined significantly to a great extent since the onset of the pandemic. Besides, an additional 36 per cent of deliveries are now being held at home due to the reduction of services at health centres. This tendency has increased the risk of maternal mortality and other complications. Notwithstanding, the pressure on health systems due to the pandemic, routine lifesaving services for pregnant mothers and newborns need to be maintained with proper protection.
Experts opined that health workers should be given the opportunity to make home visits to ensure health services for pregnant women and maternity mothers. In addition, women who live in remote areas should be encouraged to stay at home and maternal waiting homes that have been set up for pregnancy and maternity period and to seek telephone advice. In the localities where healthcare centres are closed, training of health workers and safety equipment including sterile birth kits should be provided to ensure safe childbirth services.
We urged the government to take new projects and programmes for the development and protection of women and children health during the pandemic.
