Stay-at-home order sinking women into distress

Globally, women and girls are the most affected population by burdens of poverty; add disease outbreaks in the mix, and the picture gets murkier.
In January, before the worldwide Covid-19 outbreak, the UNFPA identified 48 million girls and women classified as people in need of humanitarian assistance across the globe. Of this number, four million are pregnant women and girls.
Looking at coronavirus with gender lens, it is apparent more vulnerable women and girls will sink further into poverty and dire situations.
The UN agency has thus, set aside USD20 million to mitigate challenges facing girls and women during this period. It has also called for gender responsive advocacy and provision of maternal support to protect the stressed healthcare systems.
This action is informed by the fact that disease pandemics affect women, girls and people living with disabilities more.

MARGINALISATION

The Jubilee administration should prioritize unique needs of women; it should not be too glued to stop Covid-19 and forget the plight of women and girls bogged down by poverty and years of marginalization.
Even amid Coronavirus, the government should strengthen health systems capacity by procuring and delivering essential services to guarantee access to sexual and reproductive health services and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) services. Domestic Violence and GBV have been on a steady rise for the last five years. The Covid-19 action plans to slow the spread will only make things worse for these group of women.
Reproductive services shouldn’t suffer because Covid-19 is the new guy in town. In the absence of a working healthcare system, many lives are endangered. Our healthcare systems should be working optimally.
As people observe government’s directive to stay at home 24/7, there is bound to be unreported cases of GBV and domestic violence.

SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Pregnant women, lactating ones and girls’ needs are now in jeopardy, hence the need by national and county governments to work out ways to ensure expectant women and girls have unfettered access to ante-natal and prenatal services.
Sexual exploitation normally skyrocket in emergency times and during this period it is not different. It is the perfect breeding ground for paedophiles, GBV and DV purveyors.
No doubt, a child is being molested somewhere and a woman is cowering at a dark corner after being raped, as abusive spouses take advantage of the stay home directive. Another one is nursing injuries inflicted by an intimate partner with no one to talk to.

Elizabeth Ampairwe is the Programs Manager, Women and Leadership with the Kampala-based Forum for Women and democracy (FOWODE). She says the worst hit sectors are the informal ones and tourism, most of which are dominated by women.
“Governments are deliberately not discussing the economic impact of stay-at-home orders and lockdowns on women and girls,” says Elizabeth adding that there are concerns around childcare burdens and potential violence as spouses get to spend more time together amidst constrained resources.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Behind closed doors, prisoners of sexual exploitation abound. Domestic violence in bedrooms is the order of the day with no one to complain to as the security and judicial agencies are either out of office, or involved in one way or the other in the war on Coronavirus.
This is why the government must ensure all safety faults tailored to women and girls’ needs are working.
I fear this pandemic will roll back steps covered in reducing violence of all forms against women and girls. It is imperative for the national governments to keep the fire burning in as far as the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 are concerned.
Even with Corona, the finger should remain firmly on the pulse of marching towards zero unmet needs on family planning and sexual reproductive and healthcare services. It is important for the two tiers of governments to prioritise the needs of women and girls if we are to remain on course for 2030.

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

The environment is also harsh for business now that the country is gradually slowing down. We could be staring at a full blown lockdown if the virus crawls out of hand.
Women form the bulk of market dealers everywhere – they sell groceries, all manner of grains and even clothes both new and used. These women are now home following the government’s stringent measures to stay home. Most women selling vegetables are the sole bread winners for their nuclear and extended families.
Aljazeera recently aired the story of a woman only known as Hadija who lives with 10 children in her house in the sprawling Mathare slum. She is the sole provider for her large family from her meagre resources washing clothes for others in neighboring estates.
She has no running water and like her neighbours, buys 20 litres of water for Sh30 every day. Hadija and others in her situation, are vulnerable and need interventions to alleviate their situation.
She cannot wash clothes now because Covid-19 makes it impossible for one to visit another lest the disease spreads. How will her 10 children wash hands frequently? How will they eat? It’s no doubt, she is staring at a bleak future.