As in nearly 200 other countries across the world, Malta was hit with an invisible enemy that has managed to place elderly and vulnerable people on lockdown, students following a semblance of online tutoring, a number of workers on teleworking and  for some the blank future due to redundancies.

This pandemic has crept in most countries and found them unprepared not only medically but also physically and psychologically, with governments frantically trying to source medical equipment from near and far. Many have compared this event to a war. The one common factor being fear, fear of the unknown, of what will happen tomorrow, what will the effects be on the person and the family, living a life that is alien to us all, social distancing and looking over our backs to see if someone is within two metres.

The National Council of Women (NCW) is preoccupied about the present situation especially where women are concerned.  As in many “crisis situations” women tend to play a disproportionate role in responding to the needs of the community – as caregivers, community assistants and frontline healthcare workers. The present situation has demanded of women and mothers to home-school their children, while teleworking (when this is possible) and simultaneously care for the family. Women are responding with kindness, strength and humanity and like other frontliners often at great risk to their health. It is a time of preoccupation for pregnant women, who fear the worst for their unborn child and the immense fear of having a member of the family hospitalised and not being able to visit and sit by the side of the sick loved one or elderly parents in homes due to visits being interrupted to avoid any possible contagion.

NCW is aware of all the assistance government has set up and made available to  persons who require support to overcome loneliness, procure medicines, food and home care. Many are staying at home in response to the Superintendent of Health’s message. Such a situation can have repercussions on the wellbeing and mental health of the family due to confinement in a restricted environment. Those working from home are working at hours which are usually dedicated to rest time and this to the detriment of loss of sleep and anxiety in meeting the daily work output. What will life be like when this pandemic is over? How many other wounds will there be to heal, mental and physical? Persons will need to readjust to a new routine perhaps one that is as yet unknown.

Several pregnant mothers have recently contacted the National Council of Women regarding the decision not to allow birth partners except at the second stage of labour. This is creating great anxiety for the mothers and the fathers are feeling deprived from this lifetime experience. The NCW recommends that measures be put in place, so that the father can be part of this experience. Having a trusted birth partner present throughout labour is known to make a significant difference to the safety and well-being of women in childbirth.

The NCW would like to show its great appreciation for the invaluable work that is being done by nurses, midwives, doctors, carers, other professionals and all those that in some way or other are the frontliners in this pandemic especially NCW affiliated organisations.  

Mary Gaerty is president of the National Council of Women