The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that 116 million babies have been born since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and on Thursday May 6th 2020 called for governments to maintain lifesaving services for pregnant women and newborns that are under increasing threat from strained health services and supply chains.

New mothers and their babies are facing systems in crisis, including overwhelmed health centres; supply and equipment shortages; and a lack of skilled birth attendants, including midwives.

Millions of mothers all over the world embarked on a journey of parenthood in the world as it was”, said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “They now must prepare to bring a life into the world, as it has become – a world where expecting mothers are afraid to go to health centres for fear of getting infected, or missing out on emergency care due to strained health services and lockdowns”. Ahead of Mother’s Day, recognized in May across more than 128 countries, the UNICEF chief warned: “This is a particularly poignant Mother’s Day, as many families have been forced apart during the coronavirus pandemic…It is hard to imagine how much the pandemic has recast motherhood”.

UNICEF urges continued breastfeeding, even if a mother is infected or suspects she is, as the virus has not been found present in samples of breastmilk taken for analysis. Mothers with COVID-19 should wear a mask when feeding their baby, wash hands before and after touching the child, routinely clean and disinfect surfaces and continue to hold their newborn.They should continue medical support, including routine immunizations, after the baby is born. UNICEF advised all pregnant women to follow precautions to protect themselves from exposure to the virus. Closely monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 and seek advice from the nearest designated facility if they have concerns or experience symptoms. Pregnant women should also take the same precautions to avoid COVID -19 infection as other people: practice physical distancing, avoid physical gatherings and use online health services.

Ms. Fore said we are living in “a time for unity, a time to bring everyone together in solidarity”. 

“We can help save lives by making sure that every pregnant mother receives the support she needs to give birth safely in the months to come”, concluded the UNICEF chief.

By Alizé Utteryn 05/07/2021 , for more information visit : https://news.un.org/