By Chidinma Ufomadu
The Coronavirus pandemic has impacted different sectors of the Nigerian economy in diverse ways which also includes pregnant women.
This was revealed in a recent interview conducted by KAFTAN TV with pregnant women and nurses at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMED) in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Report from the interview shows that expectant mothers have been negatively affected by the impact of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
A woman simply known as Kolawole, who just put to bed at the hospital, stated that “I find it difficult to breastfeed so I was admitted at the hospital where I am being observed. I have been looking for a breast pump but I haven’t been able to find one since.”
Kolawole’s statement explains that the impact of the COVID-19 on the Nigerian economy is a scarcity of certain goods like the breast pump, which was formerly readily available.
She further complained about the inability to have a proper naming ceremony as she planned to due to the rule put forth by the NCDC to guide against the spread of COVID-19, which prohibits gatherings.
Health workers at the hospital also expressed their displeasure over the impact of the COVID-19 as it has brought about a lot of challenges to the health sector.
A registered nurse at the hospital, Daso Ebunola, told KAFTAN correspondents that “In this era of COVID, the earning power of everyone has reduced.
“Pregnant women don’t have money to buy essential materials like diapers and beverages.”
The statement by Daso suggests that the source of income of individuals have been affected by the impact of the COVID-19, unlike Kolawole who had the money but could not get the breast pump.
During the interview, another health worker, Ola Martins, stated that “I can say that it is more difficult now because people are scared because it was once rumoured that there were some cases of COVID in UNIMED and it has hindered some people from coming to the hospital.
“It resulted in some complications in some pregnant women as some of them refused to come for an antenatal check-up and others went to some other hospitals and later came back with complications.”
She further stated that “Most of them are owing to the hospital because their husbands are not working or earning as they used to due to the pandemic.”
This further corresponds with Daso’s statement which implies that the income of individuals has been affected by the pandemic.
In their final remarks, they called out to the government to come to their aid to help cushion the effect of the pandemic on the economy at large.
