Social distancing is a major factor to containing the COVID-19 pandemic. Since April 2nd, 2020 TOBORE OVUORIE has been interacting with several perso...
Social distancing is a major factor to containing the COVID-19 pandemic. Since April 2nd, 2020 TOBORE OVUORIE has been interacting with several persons who fall under the overlooked group in Nigeria: single mothers. She writes it is a unique situation to be a female lone-parent when the world is grappling with containing a deadly virus.I had phoned him several times that morning to no avail. It was Nicolas’s birthday. My younger brother. I wanted to wish him happy birthday.
“Since on Thursday, the little things I bought at home, we have finished everything,” she said on Sunday April 5th, when we talked for the first time. She went on to tell me how a friend assisted her with some money. “That is what is sustaining us till now. It is the last food in the house I will cook tonight.”
Alice is paid N16, 000 at the small private company where she works as a secretary. That is her only source of income and with which she uses in fending for the four kids. She doesn’t pay rent for the uncompleted building they live in. Before the coronavirus lockdown took effect, she was paid her salary. And, she used it in buying some food items for the isolation period.Alice complained that the children’s eating rate has increased.
“When I buy the one of N20, we can use it for a whole day. It is tap water and we buy in bucket and keep at home. We have well in our compound but go outside to buy drinking water. We buy from persons who buy from water tankers. Medical researches indicate the coronavirus physically affects women less severely, while gender advocates and researchers say women are worse affected economically. Worst hit are single moms. Before the emergence of the virus, they were not living normal lives, now, it is worse.In a survey I administered April 3rd to April 6th on 27 single mothers, testing their psycho-socio capacities in managing the COVID-19 crisis and lockdown in the country, through the use of psychometric properties, 55.
Mr. John Eromosele, a technologist, while isolating and working from home, has been providing care for his two small kids. Every time I called him over a story, he shuttled between attending to me over the phone and speaking with a very loud voice, instructing his kids to minimise the noisemaking or fighting. Taking care of the kids gives his wife time for other businesses, too.
“I sell fufu. It is God that is helping me. It is the little profit I make after selling the fufu that my children and I are managing to survive. I collect the fufu from the person making them at a12 pieces for N500, so, I collect N1000 worth, and when I am done selling, I give the money to the woman who makes the fufu then she would give me some more to sell.
“I bought some mangoes to sell so I can see money to feed myself and kids. But, the mango business is not moving at all and they are rotting away at home. But, I thank God for that which He provides for me even in a time as this,” she said. Nigeria, like other sub-Saharan countries, is experiencing a steady growth in out-of-wedlock motherhood, marital inability and widowhood. These have resulted in a large number of single mother families in the country. A 2014 cross-sectional study indicates no fewer than one million women aged 20-85 years old were either divorced or separated women, while 1.7 million were widowed.
According to the researchers, economic resources, parental care and health behavior accounted for the difference in Nigeria. The poor child health and survival outcomes in Nigeria remain because many of the children and mothers who need public health palliative interventions – such as the COVID-19 crisis has birthed- are not reached.Dr.
Dr. Attoh says the way forward for single mothers who fall in this category is for them to become economically independent. “The answer to their problem is for them to tie their shoe-straps, get up on their feet and try to become economically independent. There are men who are single parents, they have their children with them but no women or friends, these men are not coming on Facebook begging for money because they are economically independent,” she argues.
“The answer is for those women to ask themselves what can I do after COVID-19 if for example, my business is one of those that will fall by the way side? And, I can tell you it’s not only in Nigeria but all over the world,” Dr. Attoh concludes.
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