By: Dr. Mrs. Irene Kafui Vorsah Amponsah (President) – University of Cape Coast
Ms. Sylvia Ankamah (member) – University of Energy and Natural Resource
Indeed, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has changed our way of life. COVID-19, a name
given to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, started as a cluster of cases of pneumonia in
Wuhan in China on December 31, 2019 (WHO, 2020). Based on the assessment of the levels of
spread and severity of the novel coronavirus disease, the World Health Organization (WHO)
characterized it as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Since then, life has assumed a strange new
normal for both men and women.
Experts predicted that African countries, particularly those within the sub-Saharan region, would
be among countries that could be worst hit by the virus globally (Taylor & Berger, 2020). Ghana
recorded her first two cases of COVID-19 on March 12, 2020. Currently, information from the
Ghana Health Service (GHS) indicates that Ghana has so far recorded 5,735 cases of COVID-19
as of May 17, 2020, with 1,754 recoveries and 28 deaths (GHS, 2020). Compared to her
counterparts in North America and Europe, Ghana has gained recognition with regards to the
management of COVID-19 (Taylor & Berger, 2020).
Generally, COVID-19 infects people in different ways, which includes direct contact with
respiratory droplets from an infected person, having close contact with infected persons within six
feet, and touching surfaces contaminated with the virus (UNICEF, 2020). Individuals with the
deadly virus may exhibit several symptoms, including dry cough, headache, fever, chest pains,
sore throat, and shortness of breath. However, a recent report by the WHO indicates that many
people may be infected with coronavirus with no symptoms (WHO Report, 2020). Although
scientists around the world are currently working on several drug trials, COVID-19 has no known
cure (WHO, 2020). On January 10, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO), through its
regional emergency directors and representatives across the globe, issued comprehensive technical
guidance with advice to global leaders on how to detect, test, and manage potential cases of the
novel virus.
Against this backdrop, experts are continually encouraging people to help prevent the spread of
the virus. For example, the WHO outlined standard measures to help curtail the spread of the
virus. These measures include frequent hand washing using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, washing
of hands using soap and water, covering mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or disposable tissue
when sneezing, yawning, or coughing, and practicing social distancing. It is also recommended
that used tissues should be disposed of appropriately. Although these measures are general guidelines, countries have adopted specific and other enhanced strategies to deal with the spread
of the virus.
On March 15, 2020, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his second
address to the nation since the advent of the pandemic, announced specific measures towards the
fight against COVID-19. These measures include banning of conferences, workshops, funerals
(except private burial with only 25 people), festivals, political rallies, sporting events, and religious
activities. Also, all universities, senior high schools, and basic schools in the country, both publi
and private, were ordered to shut down until further notice.
In all this, an area that has not received considerable attention is how to protect children,
particularly babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. According to Fore (2020), children are not only at
risk of being infected with the virus but are also at the risk of being separated from family members
and caregivers. While the parenting of a child is the responsibility of both the mother and father,
the higher percentage of home and childcare traditionally rests on the shoulders of mothers. With
schools now closed in Ghana, Ghanaian mothers are faced with the challenge of caring for their
children, preparing meals, and keeping the house organized and tidy while working at the same
time. The focus of this article aims at contributing toward the education on preventive measures
against COVID-19. Mainly, this article targets mothers and/or caregivers who usually take their
children along when going to work, the hospital, market, and other such duties. It is our position
that children, particularly two years and below, are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 if
not well protected, as they lack the ability to properly follow the COVID-19 preventive protocols.
As is common with the Ghanaian tradition, mothers and/or caregivers usually strap their babies at
the back with a piece of cloth. This practice may expose babies to the scorching sun, or any harmful
thing at the blind side of the mother. More importantly, babies are equally exposed to the virus in
much the same way as adults. However, they are more vulnerable than adults when it comes to
self-protection. While adults can follow the preventive protocols themselves, babies depend on
adults, in this case their mothers, for their safety and wellbeing against COVID-19. Additionally,
putting a nose mask on a baby while strapped at the back of the mother may pose life threatening
issues as the mother may not be privy to what is going on behind her back. In cognizance with the
WHO preventive measures and new responsibilities on and expectations from women against
COVID-19, it is imperative to put in place deliberate actions to contribute toward the education of
mothers on ways to help protect children (especially babies and toddlers) from contracting the
virus. Basically, the Ghana Health Service and all stakeholders must spell out the details through
massive education when it comes to the proper use of nose/face masks with regards to children
below two years of age. The use of television, prenatal and postnatal visits at the health facility
and other social media can serve as alternative means to help educate mothers in this regard.
Women in Statistics, Ghana (WIS-GH) therefore contribute our quota in this fight against Covid19 and propose the following measures:
● Mothers should leave children at home when there is a need to move out of the house. If it
is not feasible to leave the children at home, mothers are encouraged to take their children
along. They must do all they can to protect the children from getting the coronavirus.
● If it becomes necessary to take children along while leaving the house, mothers who strap
their children at the back are encouraged to use an extra cloth to serve as a canopy or cover
for the baby. This can protect the baby’s face as well. In this case, we advise that mothers
should periodically check on the babies to ensure their well-being. Also, where it is
affordable and can be used, mothers are encouraged to use trolleys or strap their children
in front and then wear them with a nose mask. They must periodically check on the babies
or toddlers.
● Mothers should ensure that their hands are well cleaned with alcohol-based sanitizers or
washed thoroughly with soap before touching their babies or feeding them.
● Mothers are encouraged to wash the hands of their children frequently or sanitize them
with hand sanitizers.
● Efforts should be made to prevent other people from touching their babies and also avoid
toddlers from the unnecessarily touching surface of objects.
● Avoid giving anything edible from other persons to their children and prevent children
from sharing or collecting items such as toys with and from other children.
● Mothers should endeavor not to allow children to eat while walking for fear of contracting
the virus through droplets of an infected person nearby. Instead, they should find a suitable
place, wash their hands and that of the kids, or use hand sanitizers before feeding the kids.
● Mothers are encouraged to carry hand washing soap, hand tissue, and water anytime they
are stepping out with the children.
● Mothers and their children are encouraged to drink a lot of fluid (water, breastmilk, etc.)
as appropriate whilst out and about in the scorching sun.
● We also encourage mothers to wash and disinfect the clothes of their babies or children
and that of themselves including the nose mask once they get back from town. They must
dry it in the sun and also iron them properly before wearing them again.
Education on how working mothers (especially hawkers, market traders) are to protect their
children amid this Covid-19 pandemic is key. This is very important in the fight against its spread.
The aforementioned measures when put in place, we believe that the probability of children,
especially babies contracting the virus when they step out with their mothers, will be minimal.
REFERENCES
Fore, H.H. (2020). A wake-up call: COVID-19 and its impact on children’s health and wellbeing.
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