INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU:The COVID-19 pandemic has sickened 16,649 people and left 35 dead in Nepal as of July 10
But the full toll of this catastrophe has been incalculably greater
The health system has been overwhelmed and the economy has been greatly impacted
Women and girls have been disproportionately affected, with sexual and reproductive health services being curtailed and gender-based
violence on the rise.
Today, 11 July, is World Population Day, a moment to raise awareness of the sexual and reproductive health needs of
This year, UNFPA is calling attention to the needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls amid the pandemic, and the efforts needed to
secure their health and human rights.
&No organization or country can do this alone,& said Dr
Natalia Kanem, UNFPAExecutive Director, in her opening statement.
Heightened risks to women
Around the world, women face a variety of
heightened risks due to the pandemic.
Front-line health workers & the majority of whom are women & face a direct risk of illness from
But even women and girls outside the health sector can face risks
Those requiring sexual and reproductive health services can face anxiety about exposure to the virus while seeking care, or they may forgo
Other women are not able to receive care at all due to movement restrictions and curbed health services.
Many health facilities in Nepal
have reported a dramatic decline in the number of women and girls seeking critical sexual and reproductive health services,
includingantenatal services,safe delivery servicesandfamily planning caresince the COVID-19 outbreak.
UNFPA and partners led by the Family
Welfare Division, Ministry of Health and Population, have been meeting on a regular basis to ensure the continuity of essential reproductive
health services and to put in place systems that offer remote information, counselling and referral services including to women and girls in
quarantine centres and temporary shelters
Nepal has one of the highest maternal mortalities rates in the Asia Pacific region, with an estimated 1,200 maternal deaths per year and the
disruption in services will lead to a rise in the number of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortion and maternal deaths unless concrete and
innovative measures are taken to safeguard reproductive rights.
The reproductive health partnership has contributed to developing and
currently rolling out new guidelines for the provision of integrated services for mothers and children from pre-pregnancy to delivery, the
immediate postnatal period, and childhood, using alternative service modalities including helplines and teleconsultations
Health care providers will need to use clinical judgement in identifying women and girls who are at risk and may need to visit a health
facilities, based on the protocols that have been established under lockdown
The response has also included provision of PPEs and reproductive health commodities and supplies including for safe deliveries, clinical
management of sexual violence.
Gender-based violence
Rising household tensions, exacerbated by economic pressures and movement restrictions,
are sparking violence around the world
Women sheltering at home with their abusers often have nowhere to turn
And new forms of violence may be increasing, including cyber violence.
UNFPA estimates that six months of lockdowns could lead to 31 million
additional cases of gender-based violence globally, and an additional 15 million more cases for every three months the lockdown
continues.
To make matters worse, access to shelters and other support services for victims and survivors of gender based violence have been
A broad range of partners in Nepal are making a concerted effort to coordinate an effective response which includes remote services, health
care, legal support, psycho-social counselling, and access to shelters and safe houses however the needs far out stretch the available
resources.
The world must redouble such efforts, Dr
&As the global community comes together in solidarity to survive this pandemic, we lay the foundation for more resilient, gender-equal
societies and a healthier, more prosperous future for all.&
The post Putting the brakes on COVID-19: Safeguarding the health and rights of
women and girls appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
