he United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Sierra Leone has commenced the distribution of Mama-baby bags to mothers in the maternity wards of selected health facilities. This initiative aims at encouraging pregnant women to use health facilities for safe labor and delivery services as COVID-19 persists.
Since Sierra Leone registered its first case of COVID-19 on 31 March 2020, reports have indicated that women are staying away from health facilities for family planning and safe deliveries due to their fear of exposure to the virus.
UNFPA commenced the distribution of Mama-baby bags on June 2, 2020,to new mothers, reassuring recipients that maternal health services are still available and safe despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The distributions, expected to last for two months, commenced at the maternity units of the Kingharman and Rokupa Maternal and Child Health Hospitals – specialized maternal and child hospitals constructed and supported by UNFPA.
Further distributions were done at the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH), Regent and Ross Road Community Health Centres (CHCs), and at Aberdeen Women’s Centre. The distributions will go beyond Freetown to selected district hospitals and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in areas highly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each Mama-baby bag contains hygiene and essential products for new mothers including; bathing soap, washing detergent, towels, sanitary pads, hand sanitizers, face masks and underwear as well as items for babies including; wipes, soap,diapers, blankets,towels, wrappers, baby clothes, socks and caps.
The distribution of the Mama-baby bags is a key element of UNFPA’s campaign to encourage expecting mothers in Sierra Leone to access health facilities and safely deliver their babies. Furthermore, the initiative furthers the progress towards achieving UNFPA’s three transformative goals, in particular its goal of achieving a world with zero preventable maternal deaths. This novel initiative is funded by the Government of Iceland, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNFPA.
Commenting on the distribution of the Mama-baby bags, the UNFPA Country Representative, Dr. Kim Eva Dickson, noted that the ongoing effort by UNFPA is part of the efforts focused on ensuring continuity of essential reproductive and maternal health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Kim Eva Dickson remarked “Women continue to get pregnant and to give birth even during the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to encourage women to continue to visit health facilities for safe deliveries so that their lives and those of their newly born babies are safe and protected.” She further said, “These are critical moments. UNFPA is prioritizing maternal and newborn health in response to the pandemic and we call on others to work with us to ensure that all women continue to access life-saving services. We can only get zero preventable maternal deaths if we work together.”
By Sallieu Kanu
10/6/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7842