26 Jun Relevant advice for health care-givers, mothers-to-be (The Hindu, GS-2, Social Justice, Health)

Context:- As of Now Today, the number of new cases of COVID-19 per day and the number of daily COVID-19 deaths in India are among the highest in the world. Maternity services in India, already overburdened with large numbers even in pre-COVID-19 times. It is true for both , both public and private, which face a crisis situation with the conditions caused by the pandemic.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnant Women:-

• According to Journal of the American Medical Association:-

• • • Maternal mortality is much higher in COVID­19 positive pregnant mothers than in non­-COVID­19 pregnant women. 

• The problems faced by pregnant women who contract COVID­19 and their new­born are:-

• • • Pre­eclampsia
    • Pre­term 
    • Labour maternal infections
    • Increased caesarean section rates
    • Fetal growth restriction due to placental insufficiency
    • Neonatal infections and respiratory distress.
    • Maternal obesity and diabetes in pregnancy creates maternal and neonatal complications and these are common in pregnant women in India.

Way Forward:-

• • • Professional bodies should come forward on the urgent basis to avert a serious calamity.
    • The Government should consult with Professional bodies on an immediate basis to  facilitate counselling and care for women in the reproductive age group.
    • Government must provide resources to health care. professionals involved in their care.
    • Matter regarding pregnant women should be taken up on a war footing.
    • Two important steps must be taken now:-
      • Advise all women to postpone pregnancy till both partners are vaccinated.
      • Offer vaccination to all un vaccinated pregnant women to save them from tyranny of this virus.
  • Temporary and reversible contraception during COVID­19 times is a simple and effective way.
  • Reduction in the number of antenatal visits assisted with online consultations, protocols for ultrasonography, glucose tolerance test and antepartum fetal evaluation.
  • Dedicated and safe ultrasound scan centers for pregnant women as ultrasound scans are routinely done during pregnancy. These centers must be manned exclusively by immunized personnel.
  • Pregnant women with fever should be considered to have COVID­19 unless proven otherwise and be taken care in the requisite ward with full facilities.
  • COVID­19 pregnancies and non­-COVID­19 pregnancies are handled in different arrangements to prevent infecting susceptible mothers.
  • Firstly we have to prevent infections in health care personnel and the second to prevent infections in susceptible mothers. 
  • Unvaccinated healthcare workers providing care for pregnant women should be vaccinated at earliest.
  • Pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period are pro­thrombotic states and they favour the formation of blood clots in veins, so we must take care of this period so that MMR can be decreased.
  • Inactivated virus vaccines are safe during pregnancy as according to the World Health Organization, which has given a nod to the use of the inactivated Synovac vaccine.
  • The availability and advantages of the vaccine for pregnant women should be publicized and an awareness programme should be created among the public.

A Big Picture about COVID-19 and Its Impact:-

What is COVID-19:-

• Covid-19 is a Zoonotic disease. This is transmitted through the Virus. The origin of this disease is still unknown.
• This is a respiratory disease which spreads from person to person.

Effects of COVID-19 on Indian society and economy:-

• On society:-

• • Issue of Migrant Labor:-

• • • • Migration of labour from cities to villages in a haphazard manner. Migrant workers depend on daily earnings so  they barely have savings which they could spend during any emergency.
      • Gig workers have gone through a similar issue as migrant workers had faced.
    • Impact of Covid-19 on education has been pathetic and its repercussions will be seen in the near future.
      • There shall be a lifelong impact of school closures on the productivity of this generation of students.
    • Psychological trauma faced by both women and men.
    • Lockdowns due to the Covid pandemic that leads to social distancing seems to be hitting people even more than the fear of the deadly virus.
    • People are getting highly restive and agitated in spite of social media connectivity.
    • Domestic violence has increased about more than doubled in the country during this period.
    • Humans have evolved to be social creatures and are wired to live in interactive groups and communities. Lockdown and rules issued to contain COVID-19 led to isolation from family, friends and colleagues can be unbalancing and traumatic for most people and can result in short or even long-term psychological and physical health problems.
    • An increase in levels of anxiety, aggression, depression, forgetfulness and hallucinations are possible psychological effects of isolation which, in many cases, leads to suicide.

Economic Impact:-

• The Indian economy was going through a sluggish phase since demonetization and GST and now Lockdowns act like a full stop to it. 
• The country’s growth dipped below 7 percent for FY 2019-20 and it will not improve in the near future due to the second wave.

• Informal economy, which employed around 400 million workers, is at risk of falling deeper into poverty during this crisis, as per a report by the International Labor Organization. 

• Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex has seen a sharp fall.

Sector Wise Impact on Indian Economy:-

• Agriculture:-

  • The nationwide lockdown has left farmers across the country bereft of agricultural labor just before harvesting season. 
  • Farmers also worry about government procurement and their ability to sell their crops, given that many agricultural markets are still closed, despite orders from the home ministry to exempt all farming activities from the shutdown. 

• Textile:-

  • A Production halt in China and lockdown in India have had an impact which puts this growing sector into gallows due to lesser demand. This happens mainly because of dependence on China for textile raw materials including synthetic yarn, synthetic fabric, buttons, zippers, and hangers.

• Automotive:-

  • The sector was already witnessing a sluggish demand for the last one year due to GST and demonetization. The present situation has further aggravated the problem and compounded the situation with an acute liquidity crunch. 

• Aviation:-

  • With suspension of global travel, The airlines are looking at bankruptcy.

• Hotels and restaurants:-

  • Due to lockdowns demand has declined substantially with owners struggling to recover the fixed costs.

• Chemicals:-

  • India’s dependence on China for active ingredients and shortage of essential chemicals amidst the lockdown has resulted in a reduced production of organic and inorganic chemicals across India.

• Pharmaceuticals:-

  • As per Trade Promotion Council of India, the country imports around 85 percent of its total requirement of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from China. Dependencies on China have impacted manufacturing operations in India. However, demand for essential medicines and safety equipment has gone up. Government has restricted the export of certain medicines and pharma products and is monitoring the overall inventory on regular basis.

• E-commerce:-

  • Several e-commerce players are unable to service existing orders and are not accepting new orders, even when there is a surge in demand for home delivery. However, companies are trying to service essential items on a priority basis.

• IT and ITeS:-

  • Slowdown in markets have reduced the influx of IT projects from international markets. Remote working has given rise in demand for communication tools, conference platforms, and cyber security apps, among others. These software tools are being used across sectors such as education, finance, and HR to ensure business continuity.

Download Daily Current Affairs of 26th June 2021

Swarn Singh

Plutus IAS Current Affair Team Member