1. Stories from the inside ... A thread - OBA.
Last week, I had the opportunity of chatting with some families in the communities we have worked in.
As #COVIDー19 rages, what is happening in the villages where ordinarily healthcare access is a challenge?
#MLS4COVID19
Last week, I had the opportunity of chatting with some families in the communities we have worked in.
As #COVIDー19 rages, what is happening in the villages where ordinarily healthcare access is a challenge?
#MLS4COVID19
2. Most are farmers.
One, Methi told me when I asked about the welfare of his family - that they are coping as best as they can.
When asked if they had rice and other food staples, he exclaimed "Rice? Ke!" - which means "Rice? Impossible!"
What is the challenge? Increased cost
One, Methi told me when I asked about the welfare of his family - that they are coping as best as they can.
When asked if they had rice and other food staples, he exclaimed "Rice? Ke!" - which means "Rice? Impossible!"
What is the challenge? Increased cost
3. They come to market on free days during the lockdown to sell whatever vegetables and produce they have - cheaply - because of the perishable nature of what they have to sell.
With the little money they have, they have to pay for other things they do not have on their farm.
With the little money they have, they have to pay for other things they do not have on their farm.
4. Vegetables are still selling for about the same price here.
Rice, garri, fish & meat though have more than doubled in price.
Nigeria like some other countries had previously been battling a malnutrition challenge.
With #COVID19, how bad has the challenge gotten?
Rice, garri, fish & meat though have more than doubled in price.
Nigeria like some other countries had previously been battling a malnutrition challenge.
With #COVID19, how bad has the challenge gotten?
5. One of his wives, came by the house yesterday with her 9-month-old baby.
They had missed a vaccination day and had come to the health centre in town to get the baby vaccinated - yes, they do not have a clinic in their village and have to travel by bike almost an hour to one.
They had missed a vaccination day and had come to the health centre in town to get the baby vaccinated - yes, they do not have a clinic in their village and have to travel by bike almost an hour to one.
6. Unfortunately, with the clinic in town also offering only skeletal services due to #COVID19, she was told that the vaccination could only be gotten another day.
Long story short... Her almost 3 hours journey back and forth was in vain.
Will she make the next appointment?
Long story short... Her almost 3 hours journey back and forth was in vain.
Will she make the next appointment?
7. Only time and perhaps research will tell, the number of lives that will be lost, not due to #COVIDー19 but due to a worsening of previously existing problems caused by inadequate #HealthForAll such as malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, measles etc.
Will the number be small?
Will the number be small?
8. Also, yesterday, I got a message from another community - thanking me for a token gift I sent to them for buying food items and sharing.
She (one of the community leaders - a teacher) sent me photos of what was packaged and shared. On seeing those photos, I shed tears.
She (one of the community leaders - a teacher) sent me photos of what was packaged and shared. On seeing those photos, I shed tears.
9. Why cry?
On a normal day, these food packages are not enough to feed a family for 1 week.
As @NigeriaGov , @OGSG_Official , @DigiCommsNG , @followlasg and other government agencies sharing palliatives may have found out - the need is great and still largely unmet.
On a normal day, these food packages are not enough to feed a family for 1 week.
As @NigeriaGov , @OGSG_Official , @DigiCommsNG , @followlasg and other government agencies sharing palliatives may have found out - the need is great and still largely unmet.
10.
Many breadwinners are stuck at home without passive incomes. In towns and cities, the cry of hunger is increasing.
Those in the villages are largely forgotten.
Who will hear their silent cries for help?
I hope someone reading this can do something to help them.
Many breadwinners are stuck at home without passive incomes. In towns and cities, the cry of hunger is increasing.
Those in the villages are largely forgotten.
Who will hear their silent cries for help?
I hope someone reading this can do something to help them.
11. How can they be helped at this pandemic crisis time?
I sincerely do not have all the answers.
Nor the resources and capacity for any large scale interventions.
However, this is my heartfelt plea - to those who have some resources: Please do not forget them, especially now!
I sincerely do not have all the answers.
Nor the resources and capacity for any large scale interventions.
However, this is my heartfelt plea - to those who have some resources: Please do not forget them, especially now!
12. As I close this thread, I am reminded to send up a prayer to heaven for one of the women in another village. She is heavily pregnant and as baby deliveries go, it could happen any time.
I pray she delivers safely and is able to get to the health centre on time on D-Day
I pray she delivers safely and is able to get to the health centre on time on D-Day
13. Hoping her husband's trusty motorcycle does a great job of getting her to the clinic whenever her labour starts. She will not be one of Nigeria's maternal mortality statistics.
How do we help others like her this #COVID19 period?
How do we help others like her this #COVID19 period?
14. Yes, at this crisis time, as the lockdown days increase it is likely every man for himself as @YulEdochie recently hinted in a tweet. With dwindling personal resources, many who have been helping others may stop.
Who steps in?
Who steps in?
