Preventing Deaths, Saving Lives: Prioritizing Safety of Mothers & Children during COVID-19

COVID-19 – The Initial Response
A novel strain of coronavirus — SARS-CoV-2 —reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, spread to more than 200 countries worldwide and was declared a Global Pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Drastic actions were taken by governments and authorities globally. As a result, lockdowns, social distancing, work from home, restrictions on social gatherings, isolation of those with symptoms, and diversion of most funds and health workforce to the COVID response became the norm the world over. Primary healthcare services were almost immediately slashed, with many services like Family Planning (FP), Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (MNCH) care, and immunization put on hold as Outpatient Departments (OPDs) were closed.
COVID-19 & Health Services
The health service delivery for elective cases halted, and preventive services decreased. Given the huge influx of COVID patients, health workers, supplies and medical equipment were channeled exclusively toward COVID response. This disrupted and compromised essential and regular health services within an already strained health system, and put at risk people with health problems that are not linked to the pandemic, such as those requiring family planning, maternal, neonatal, and child health and nutrition (RMNCH-N) services.