COVID and SRH

Men

and Old Age

During COVID, gender-based violence, early marriages, and more skyrocketed caused by prolonged periods of being in close proximity with each other. COVID also made it difficult to access health care services, several women couldn’t receive services for their pregnancy, maternal care, and infant care. It has also increased domestic violence, rape, lack of healthcare, child marriages, female genital mutilations, and more. This was due to the lack of preparation for crises like this. 

There needs to be an emphasis on improving the effectiveness of health care response during situations like COVID. This includes preparing health centers that are essential health providers to help pregnant women, sexual & reproductive health, family planning, and reallocating resources.

The UN put in place a Sustainable Development Goal focusing on Good Health and Well-Being (#3). This focuses on reducing health-related problems, including: 

  • Maternal mortality and preventable deaths of newborns and young children
  • Communicable diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as deaths from non-communicable diseases, substance abuse, and mental illness
  • Ensuring universal health coverage, and especially access to reproductive health services
  • The health impacts on the environment, include hazardous chemicals, pollution, and climate change

Communities need to recognize the harmful effects COVID has on women and girls. Measures should be taken to ensure the safety of everyone in the community.

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