Women to carry heavier burden of virus aftermath
Majority of health workers are women and that puts them at highest risk
Majority of health workers are women and that puts them at highest risk. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
The COVID-19 pandemic with its widespread ramifications has brought the world to its knees. Billions of people have been confined inside their homes, businesses are in turmoil, stock markets have taken a massive hit, travel has been disrupted tenfold and the list goes on and on.
As much as the economies continue to bear the brunt and remain the focus of heads of states and policymakers, it is also the marginalised communities on the grassroots, especially women,who are suffering and will carry the heaviest burden of the virus’s fallout for a very long time.
The increasing food insecurity, layoffs and job uncertainty, restrictions on mobility with children isolated at homes due to school closure, put women under immense constraints.
Being the primary caregivers to ailing family members and responsible for most of the domestic chores, women are not only exposed to the virus from all the fronts but are also likely to bear most of its impact.
According to a UN report, women make up 70 per cent of workers in the health and social sector and they do three times as much unpaid care work at home as men.
“The majority of health workers are women and that puts them at highest risk. Most of them are also parents and caregivers to family members. They continue to carry the burden of care, which is already disproportionally high in normal times. This puts women under considerable stress,” says UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Pakistan’s response to coronavirus
“In addition, the majority of women work in the informal economy, where health insurance is likely to be non-existent or inadequate, and income is not secure,” she adds, underscoring that it was also an issue of gender inequality.
Care International, a non-governmental organisation, in its report Gender Implications of COVID-19 outbreaks in Development and Humanitarian Settings, states that its analysis shows the pandemic could disproportionately affect women and girls in a number of ways, with repercussions on their education, food security and nutrition, health, livelihoods, and protection.
“Even after the outbreak has been contained, women and girls may continue to suffer from ill-effects for years to come,” it reveals.
The report gives reference to the 2014–16 West Africa EVD outbreak that put restrictions on the movement of goods.
In view of the tough measures taken to combat Ebola, people hampered women’s trading activities -- cross-border and between communities -- as well as their ability to cultivate their land and engage in other agricultural activities thus affecting long-term economic prospects for women.
“As a result, women were unable to pay back loans from village savings and loan associations, which reduced the capital of the associations,” it continues, affirming that the economic impact of COVID-19 outbreaks on women and girls and especially female migrant workers, could be “long-term and widespread”.
On the health front, experts also point out lack of support for women's needs in times of crisis.
They say with resources being “understandably” diverted to combat the outbreaks, there is a lesser focus on routine health services, including pre- and post-natal healthcare.
The already limited access to reproductive health services is at the risk of further exacerbating.
“Doctors and medical workers are working round-the-clock to deal with the coronavirus outbreak but we also have to ensure that other emergency services are not affected, especially where women and children are involved,” says Dr Farah Cheema, a cardiologist at a local hospital while speaking with The Express Tribune.
Domestic violence
Increase in domestic violence has been another major, overnight outcome from the crisis as mental health professionals across the world report rise in abuse cases during the lockdown.
Stress and anxiety caused by the virus have become major trigger points in perpetrating this behavior, they add.
“We are getting more and more women reaching out to seek help against domestic violence. The main concern is they disconnect their online therapy sessions half-way as they fear a violent parent, spouse or relative walking in or catching them crying,” says psychologist and expert in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Tipu Pervaiz over the cases that are emerging during the nation-wide lockdown.
“Humans are not psychologically designed for isolation, we need a social interactive medium to keep a healthy mental balance. This is the main concern as lockdown would push people into isolation and the inability to interact or express will work as a catalyst in violent incidents,” he maintains, adding that women and other victims of domestic abuse are stranded with their perpetrators in the ongoing situation.
The COVID-19 pandemic with its widespread ramifications has brought the world to its knees. Billions of people have been confined inside their homes, businesses are in turmoil, stock markets have taken a massive hit, travel has been disrupted tenfold and the list goes on and on.
As much as the economies continue to bear the brunt and remain the focus of heads of states and policymakers, it is also the marginalised communities on the grassroots, especially women,who are suffering and will carry the heaviest burden of the virus’s fallout for a very long time.
The increasing food insecurity, layoffs and job uncertainty, restrictions on mobility with children isolated at homes due to school closure, put women under immense constraints.
Being the primary caregivers to ailing family members and responsible for most of the domestic chores, women are not only exposed to the virus from all the fronts but are also likely to bear most of its impact.
According to a UN report, women make up 70 per cent of workers in the health and social sector and they do three times as much unpaid care work at home as men.
“The majority of health workers are women and that puts them at highest risk. Most of them are also parents and caregivers to family members. They continue to carry the burden of care, which is already disproportionally high in normal times. This puts women under considerable stress,” says UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Pakistan’s response to coronavirus
“In addition, the majority of women work in the informal economy, where health insurance is likely to be non-existent or inadequate, and income is not secure,” she adds, underscoring that it was also an issue of gender inequality.
Care International, a non-governmental organisation, in its report Gender Implications of COVID-19 outbreaks in Development and Humanitarian Settings, states that its analysis shows the pandemic could disproportionately affect women and girls in a number of ways, with repercussions on their education, food security and nutrition, health, livelihoods, and protection.
“Even after the outbreak has been contained, women and girls may continue to suffer from ill-effects for years to come,” it reveals.
The report gives reference to the 2014–16 West Africa EVD outbreak that put restrictions on the movement of goods.
In view of the tough measures taken to combat Ebola, people hampered women’s trading activities -- cross-border and between communities -- as well as their ability to cultivate their land and engage in other agricultural activities thus affecting long-term economic prospects for women.
“As a result, women were unable to pay back loans from village savings and loan associations, which reduced the capital of the associations,” it continues, affirming that the economic impact of COVID-19 outbreaks on women and girls and especially female migrant workers, could be “long-term and widespread”.
On the health front, experts also point out lack of support for women's needs in times of crisis.
They say with resources being “understandably” diverted to combat the outbreaks, there is a lesser focus on routine health services, including pre- and post-natal healthcare.
The already limited access to reproductive health services is at the risk of further exacerbating.
“Doctors and medical workers are working round-the-clock to deal with the coronavirus outbreak but we also have to ensure that other emergency services are not affected, especially where women and children are involved,” says Dr Farah Cheema, a cardiologist at a local hospital while speaking with The Express Tribune.
Domestic violence
Increase in domestic violence has been another major, overnight outcome from the crisis as mental health professionals across the world report rise in abuse cases during the lockdown.
Stress and anxiety caused by the virus have become major trigger points in perpetrating this behavior, they add.
“We are getting more and more women reaching out to seek help against domestic violence. The main concern is they disconnect their online therapy sessions half-way as they fear a violent parent, spouse or relative walking in or catching them crying,” says psychologist and expert in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Tipu Pervaiz over the cases that are emerging during the nation-wide lockdown.
“Humans are not psychologically designed for isolation, we need a social interactive medium to keep a healthy mental balance. This is the main concern as lockdown would push people into isolation and the inability to interact or express will work as a catalyst in violent incidents,” he maintains, adding that women and other victims of domestic abuse are stranded with their perpetrators in the ongoing situation.