THE Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have bemoaned the challenges being faced by women and girls to access contraceptives and family planning services during the COVID-19 induced lockdown.
By Michael Gwarisa
Speaking during a Virtual Media briefing to commemorate World Population Day which ran under theme, “Putting the brakes on COVID-19: How to Safeguard the Health and Rights of Women and Girls Now?” Women Affairs Minister, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni said the lockdown had made access to critical contraceptives services a challenge, in the process widening the contraceptive gap.
At the moment, women are not able to go to clinics at will and whenever they need to and I think there has been a compromise here. However, something is being done, this is an essential service I hope they have been able to access when possible,” said Minister Nyoni.
Minister Nyoni added that government was working closely with the UNFPA and Musasa project to avail essential services around Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and services for survivors during the COVID19 lockdown.
“We are very committed to support women and girls. Today we are here to commemorate the 2020 World Population Day being held under the theme, “Putting the Breaks on COVID-19, How to safeguard the rights of women and girls now”
“Women constitute 52 percent of the world’s population and as nations, we cannot talk about population issues without giving specific attention to the needs of women and girls. This year’s theme is a reminder that country’s including Zimbabwe, have an obligation under the international human rights law to put in place measures to safeguard rights of women and girls, more specifically how do we safeguard the rights of women and girls in the current context as we are grappling with the global pandemic of COVID-19.”
She added that while the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone, everywhere, its impact is not the same as the pandemic is deepening existing inequalities and vulnerabilities, particularly for women and girls.
“Existing gender and other inequalities have been exacerbated with women and girls facing increased threats of gender-based violence, challenges in accessing sexual, Reproductive Health services which also include pre-natal and post-natal care. Economic stressors can increase tensions within intimate relationships and disrupt gender roles; resulting in men failing to fulfill their gender roles, as providers, resorting to violence as an outlet.”
UNFPA Deputy Country Representative Ms Gulnara Kadrykulova said the COVID-19 pandemic had affected access to essential which include Gender Based Violence (GBV) services as well as family planning services.
“It is absolutely true that the lockdown affected people’s movement to the medical facilities. Secondly, because of shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) medical staff have also been affected that is really a big concern and also because of the industrial action there is also shortage of medical staff.
“We are also working together with the donors and the ministry of health to ensure integrated health services provision. Family planning and GBV services is essential services. The other aspect is about NATPHARM, now the major bulk of procurement is meant for COVID-19. This is why some other procurements are of less priority because focusing on COVID-19 now is considered a lifesaving activity,” said Ms Kadrykulova.
She added that another challenge at the moment was that previously as donors, they would mobilize for resources for the procurement of family planning commodities but due to the COVID-19, attention has shifted towards COVID-19 procurement. She however said there was now a common agreement between donors and the ministry of health that family planning is also an essential health service just like maternal health and other services.
Meanwhile, the UNFPA has released over US$2.5 million to support the Government of Zimbabwe and various implementing partners to continue providing quality sexual reproductive health and Gender Based Violence services during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The funds are meant to ensure the continuation in the provision of sexual reproductive health services including Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and services for survivors during the COVID19 lockdown. COVID-19 is deepening existing inequalities and vulnerabilities, particularly for women and girls. With many countries, Zimbabwe included, on lockdown and health systems struggling to cope, sexual and reproductive health services have been negatively impacted, and GBV cases are on the increase.
Ms Kadrykulova added that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of many people and pushed up incidences of GBV.
“Initiatives to end GBV and harmful cultural practices have also been affected. Globally, COVID-19 continues to disrupt efforts to end harmful practices including averting GBV,” said Ms Kadrykulova.
“In Zimbabwe working with various partners and under the leadership of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development UNFPA – has identified current challenges within the COVID19 context and tailored appropriate interventions.”
As lead of the GBV sub cluster in Zimbabwe UNFPA is working with the MOWCSMED to ensure GBV services are among essential services. This is so that survivors and GBV service providers are free to seek for services and provide services respectively during the COVID19 lockdown. In addition, the following support has been provided:
- Scaling up of the mobile One Stop Centres model for multi-sectorial service delivery, including health, police and legal support
- Equipping all static and mobile Gender Based Violence (One Stop Centres, safe shelters and safe spaces) with COVID19 hygiene supplies and infection control measures
- Support for escorting survivors to higher level of care, including those with suspicious symptoms to COVID19 dedicated response health facilities through a shuttle service. COVID-19 movement restrictions have resulted in difficulties getting transport to access services for many
- Scaling up GBV hotline capacity for remote psychosocial support
- Support to Increase in GBV COVID19 impact surveillance and referrals through community volunteers and equipment of data and airtime for direct link with hotlines and mobile services
- Community based information dissemination through mediums such as social media, community and national radio on COVID19 prevention and where survivors can continue to access GBV service during this lockdown period
- Supporting capacity building of inter-cluster frontline responders on GBV services and referrals, including within quarantine facilities.
In Zimbabwe, GBV and harmful practices are undoing a lot of gains made in development, and the COVID19 pandemic is worsening the situation. The 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) confirms that violence against women is rife and affects all women, regardless of geographic location, wealth or education. At least 35% of women and girls, 15 to 49 years, have experienced some form of GBV at least once in their lifetime. Accelerated action is urgently called for in Zimbabwe to address this problem amongst other harmful practices, which are obstacles to growth and development.
Findings from the State of the World Population 2020 report show that all over the world, Zimbabwe included, tens of thousands of girls are, on a daily basis, having their health, rights and futures stolen from them through the prevalence of GBV and harmful cultural practices.
[pullquote]“The COVID crisis has taken a staggering toll on people, communities and economies everywhere. Yet not everyone is affected equally, and as we so often see, women and girls tend to suffer most,” UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem.[/pullquote]
“The impact of COVID-19 will likely hamper global efforts to achieve the three ‘zeros’ at the heart of our work at UNFPA – zero unmet need for contraception, zero preventable maternal deaths, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls – by 2030. UNFPA projects that the pandemic will cut global progress towards ending gender-based violence within this decade by at least one third.”
UNFPA and partners are supporting efforts to respond to GBV in humanitarian settings, including in climate-change triggered emergencies – cyclone, drought and disease outbreaks like the current COVID19 global pandemic. Programmatic interventions aim at reducing vulnerabilities of women and girls, which exacerbate the risk of exposure to GBV in emergencies, and ensuring continuity of essential services. Support includes ensuring that there is continuity in the provision and access to essential reproductive health services in order to reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths.
As part of measures to support the women and girls to maintain their dignity during the lockdown, the MOWCSMED distributed dignity kits to the National Training Centre, which is accommodating homeless women and girls. The government department also distributed dignity kits to OSCs supported around the country.
In light of the impact of COVID-19, UNFPA has also reprogrammed its work to support continuity of lifesaving maternal health interventions. UNFPA is supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care with infection prevention and control sundries, personal protective equipment for health workers, equipment and sundries to support emergency obstetric and neonatal care. Support for efforts on strengthening psychosocial support for people affected or infected with COVID-19 continue to be provided.
Water buckets, liquid soap and sanitizers for hand hygiene for women in Maternity Waiting Homes have been procured and distributed. In addition technical and financial support is being provided in the national COVID-19 response technical working groups. Efforts to ensuring availability of essential reproductive health commodities such as contraceptives continue to be supported.
“Sexual and reproductive health care is a right, and like pregnancies and childbirth, human rights don’t stop for pandemics. Together, let’s put the brakes on COVID-19 and safeguard the health and rights of women and girls – now,” says Kanem.
