Matilda Agamu, a recovered Covid-19 patient who was stigmatized by members of her community at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, has given birth to a healthy baby girl. 

Matilda was the first coronavirus patient in the Upper East Region. She was diagnosed whilst pregnant. But despite having been treated, declared recovered and discharged, she was stigmatized together with her husband who also later tested positive for the virus.  

Matilda was unable to reopen her shop for business and her 8-year-old daughter was stoned by other children in the community. 

Exactly one month ago, when Joy News first visited Matilda Agamu, she was traumatized and dejected, having gone through the painful ordeal of being stigmatized by people she once knew as friends and relatives. 

At the time, she was expecting her baby but she was also without any money to prepare for the baby’s arrival. 

This was because Matilda had spent almost a month at the Covid-19 treatment centre and just as she was about to be discharged, her husband was also admitted, having contracted the coronavirus as well. 

Although she had recovered from covid-19 and discharged, Matilda was left almost alone and unable to trade as a result of verbal abuse from some of her colleague traders.   

But now, two weeks after Matilda delivered her baby, she and her family are happier. 

“Ever since Albert Sore (Joy News Correspondent) came to my house for the video shooting, things started turning around for our good and for the good name of Joy News”, Matilda said. 

Host of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Kojo Yankson traveled to Bolgatanga, to do a special feature on Matilda Agamu and her family, shortly after Regional Correspondent, Albert Sore first told her story. 

Matilda said Kojo Yankson’s visit also culminated in the visit of the MP for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo. 

She said Adongo visited her at home to show her compassion and to donate some items to her. 

“Isaac Adongo came with items like rice, oil, milk, eggs and a cash amount of GH¢1,000," Mathilda revealed. 

She added that she has received other donations in cash and kind from many well-meaning individuals, groups and organizations including the Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana, the Professional Christian Women’s Network and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE). 

“Later, other people followed up to make donations. They gave me items including soap, clothes for my baby, milo, milk, hand sanitizers and many others. I can’t even tell when the items will finish”, an excited Matilda said, adding that she's also received almost GHC10,000 in cash.

On the day of JoyNews' recent visit, Terabuuriyele – a group concerned with the promotion of the culture and tradition of the Upper East Region, had also come to present a donation to Mathilda and her newborn baby. 

Secretary for the group, Habiba Alhassan, said they were touched by Matilda’s story.

“We decided to put our heads together and see what we can do to support the family”, she added. 

The group donated some food items and a cash amount of GH¢3,000 to Matilda and her family. 

Mathilda told Joy News she underwent a Caesarean section because she was pregnant beyond her due date.

But nothing about her previous Covid-19 status was ever mentioned by the doctor. 

She stated that she and her newborn baby girl who is yet to be given a name, are very healthy. 

“She (the baby) is healthy. The only thing is that she eats a lot. She eats a lot but she is healthy; there is nothing wrong with her”, Matilda said, laughing. 

Asked how she feels now, Matilda said, “I’m happy. I can say I’m the happiest woman in the world”. 

Mathilda’s husband, Bernard said both of their businesses have suffered since their Covid-19 experience but he is very hopeful that things will soon turn around for the better. 

“We are pleading with people (in the community) to understand that we did not buy this sickness for ourselves. Anyone at all could be infected. They should help us in our business because I am jobless and I want to do something to support my family,” Bernard said. 

Mathilda Agamu and her husband say the stigmatization against them has generally reduced since the first time they shared their story. 

Mathilda will reopen her business as soon as her baby is old and strong enough. 

For now, she has decided to become an ambassador for campaigns against the stigmatization of people who have recovered from the coronavirus. 

She has already gone on some local radio stations to do a few campaigns with the help of the NCCE in the Upper East Region, and hopes to continue that, for as long as is necessary.