BABIES’ CHECK-UPS CAN BE SAFELY SUSPENDED

MBABANE – Babies who are almost a year old can defer their routine checks to avoid being exposed to the coronavirus.
This was said by Health Promotion Officer Calvin Dlamini during a health programme on national radio.

Dlamini said during the  partial lockdown, which has since been extended by a further 21 days, it was currently wise for mothers not to take their babies to health facilities for the monthly check-ups.

During these check-ups, babies are given vaccines to immunise against illnesses and have their weight and height taken to monitor growth.
Dlamini said since health facilities were known to be fertile ground for germs, it would be sensible to keep children away from them.
“We should know that children are in various development stages and they have a compromised immune system as they are still growing up and developing disease-fighting body cells,” he said.

He explained that babies who were expected not to miss clinical check-ups were newborns and those younger than six months.
“It is very crucial for these babies and their mothers to be examined and have their health monitored due to the risk they are in.”

Skipping

He said health studies have shown that most babies would die around the early months if they were not well taken care of.
Some parents called in during the programme to find out if skipping clinic visits would not have any negative impact on their children and they were told that it would not.

Dlamini explained that this was not a permanent suspension but it was a deferment of a short period of time, which could be not more than three weeks.
Other parents called to ask if it would not be risky for their newborns if they lie idle while waiting for public transport to resume operations in the afternoon after going through the check-ups at clinics.

On this, Dlamini said it was unfortunate that by the time these new mothers were done at clinics, transport would be on break. However, by the time this report was compiled, government had said public transport would resume normal working hours.

Control

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said if a child missed a shot, there was no need to start over.
“Just go back to your child’s doctor for the next shot. Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about vaccines.”
Deputy Director of Health Services Dr Velephi Okello said even though she was not privy to the arrangements that the public health unit may have put in place for the duration of the lockdown, she was aware that some mothers did not take their babies for check-ups on the specific dates advised by health workers.

Problem

“Some parents do not maintain the dates. I can say there will not be a problem with deferring because these vaccines are not like ARV tablets where you cannot afford to skip appointments because you need to have the tablets and take them continuously without fail.”
The country went into a 20-day partial lockdown on March 27.

Lockdown

At the end of the lockdown on Wednesday, Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini announced an extension of 21 days.
During this time people who can, are expected to work from home; avoid gatherings of over 20 people; keep a two-metre distance from other individuals and wash their hands with soap and water regularly.

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