|
|
The COVID-19 pandemic is already having a devastating effect on families, communities, economies, developed and developing countries and those with underlying health conditions. The government’s measures to contain its spread will be most devastating for those working in the informal sector. Girls and women will be disproportionately affected, particularly amongst the poorest and socially marginalized groups. Many girls, women, boys and men will be affected by the crisis. Let’s talk about how relationships are faring during this pandemic.
Due to social distancing, some relationships are on the rock since most people are trying hard to stay away a bit. Some partners do not understand why this should be a barrier and wouldn’t want to see reasons why the other partner would deny having g close contact with him or her. This becomes a major problem and can lead to a break up.
Let’s talk about how the Covid-19 has brought about a disruption in access to sexual and reproductive health services. Access to contraceptives during the acute phase of the crisis will have severe consequences for a lot of relationships. Lack of access to contraceptives is likely to increase the number of unwanted and unintended pregnancies for married and unmarried girls, which in turn could increase pressure on girls to marry early. This will also pose pressure on the men to wise up and ‘claim’ the women as their own in order to make them theirs. If the man isn’t financially stable, it will pose a lot of pressure on him since the pregnancy and the carrier of the pregnancy must also be catered for.
In most relationships, pregnancy is the last thing they want to hear. People cohabiting in the name of ‘dating’ or ‘courting’ who have not decided on having children would end up been intimate than they used to. This might bring about an early and unplanned pregnancy. This poses a higher risk of complications and maternal and infant mortality which will lead to unplanned marriages which mostly becomes a burden since they were only benefiting from each other for the time being. Ensuring the health and safety of young mothers and their new borns will become increasingly difficult during this time. The pandemic is likely to have a negative impact on maternal health services as healthcare gets diverted to the COVID-19 response.
We all are not in normal times as we are trying to fend for ourselves and the family. Tensions may rise as business isn’t booming as it used to. Frustration may set in and as the saying goes ‘a hungry man is an angry man’. Without or little provocation, tempers may rise and lead to assault. In the midst of this pandemic where the focus is on the pandemic and how to curb the situation, centres for violence are also likely to be disrupted. There wouldn’t be a fair hearing on the case as most of the centres are not in full operation as they used to. Recently, our learned Ghanaians were saying they weren’t fully paid for their services by some clients before the lock down.
According to UNESCO, 180 countries had implemented nationwide school and university closures by the end of March 2020. This affects over 87% of world’s student population. As schools are on hold for now, girls are at increased risk of sexual exploitation. Most girls who cannot fend for themselves would enter into relationships they are not interested in themselves to feed. This would bring a lot of problems as the males might not satisfy the needs of the ladies for free. As the saying goes ‘there’s no free lunch’.
Fellow Ghanaians the ball is in our court to continue to stay safe and heed to the safety precautions laid out to help kick this novel coronavirus from the regions, Ghana, Africa and the world at large.
- Let us avoid overcrowding areas
- Wash your hands with soap regularly under running water
- Use alcohol hand rub
- Do not touch your eyes, mouth or nose (The T-ZONE) with unwashed hands
- Keep distance from people who show signs such as fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing
- Eat properly, drink enough water and have enough rest/sleep.
- In case you have symptoms, call the emergency numbers (+233 55 843 9868 / +233 50 949 7700) or report to the nearest hospital
- Practice social isolation.
