The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to disrupt essential healthcare services due to barriers to supply and demand. Mathematical models indicate that major service disruptions in Niger could leave 624,400 children without oral antibiotics for pneumonia, 974,800 children without DPT vaccine, lead to 78,800 fewer deliveries in health facilities and 176,900 fewer women receiving family planning services.
The result would be a 16% increase in infant mortality and a 6% rise in maternal mortality over the following 12 months. Maintaining essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial to prevent these adverse consequences and protect the progress made in recent years in reducing infant and maternal mortality.
