Along with the increasing number of cases, there are growing concerns over the effect COVID-19 has on primary healthcare
Over the past few weeks, reports are being published on the poor primary healthcare people are receiving in this current pandemic. This show about COVID affecting people in more ways than one, directly or indirectly. Cases of mental health being affected are also reported due to the lockdown and protective measures.
The World health organization (WHO) highlights the importance of primary healthcare to be a whole society approach to health and is centered on the needs of self, families, and communities.
“Primary healthcare, ensures people receive comprehensive care — ranging from promotion and prevention to treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care — as close as feasible to people’s everyday environment.” explains WHO
Expecting parents:
“The determination of whether or not to separate a mother with known or suspected COVID-19 and her infant should be made on a case-by-case basis using shared decision-making between the mother and the clinical team,” the CDC advises.
Concerns about expecting partners not being allowed are also causing speculations. The CDC advises any visitor can enter the delivery room or hospital if and of if not showing any COVID-19 symptoms, provided wearing protective equipment.
Canceled doctor appointments:
There is a huge case of canceled prenatal appointments being reported, which is an essential part of primary care, given that governments all around the world announcing that it is unsafe for any regular appointments or doctor visits.
For instance, in the U.S., the CDC recommends that “healthcare systems prioritize urgent visits and delay elective care to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in healthcare settings.”
By people missing doctor appointments, there is also a delay in children receiving any vaccine which can lead to an outbreak of different diseases.
“The pandemic has made it crystal clear that we are one world that has more in common with each other than we’d ever dare to believe,” says WHO Director-General.