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In Somalia, COVID-19 Fears Prevent Maternal'¯Healthcare, Child Vaccines

Mohamed Sheikh Nor

   MOGADISHU - Somali'¯health authorities'¯say'¯the number
   of'¯maternal'¯checkups'¯and childhood vaccinations
   have'¯plunged'¯during the pandemic'¯as many people fear catching
   COVID-19 at clinics and hospitals.'¯'¯Healthcare workers'¯worry'¯the
   lack of medical'¯care'¯for pregnant women and children could'¯result
   in'¯a'¯wave of common diseases'¯that'¯take more victims'¯than COVID-19.

   Amina Mustaf'¯and her family'¯were'¯displaced by drought three years
   ago and'¯have'¯since been living in a Mogadishu relief camp.

   Her'¯three-week-old'¯baby'¯needed'¯vaccinations,'¯but she was'¯too
   afraid of catching COVID-19 to'¯go to a'¯clinic.

   She said that it is a'¯common fear'¯among'¯mothers in'¯the'¯camp.

   Mustaf saidthat she couldn't go to a health care facility because of
   this'¯COVID-19'¯spreading across the world.'¯ she feared for her health
   and that of her child, she said.'¯'¯Mustaf said because they are scared
   of contracting the virus at'¯a'¯health facility they missed
   important'¯pre-natal and post-natal'¯vaccinations, all because of
   COVID-19.

   Somali healthcare workers'¯are alarmed by the sharp decline in
   child'¯immunizations'¯and visits to clinics'¯during the pandemic.

   Volunteers like'¯Sadia Ahmed, with local health group SORRDO,'¯are
   going door-to-door'¯urging'¯families'¯to vaccinate their children.

   But it's no easy task, she said.

   Every mother, whether pregnant or lactating, is not ready to come to
   the health facility for vaccination, said Ahmed. Most fear contracting
   COVID-19.

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