New Telegraph

WHO concerned over COVID-19 impact on women, girls in Africa

Regina Otokpa
Abuja
The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday raised concerns over the worsening impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls in Africa.
WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, disclosed that due to the pandemic, women were confronted with higher risks of gender-based violence, health emergencies, reduced access to health services, especially maternal, sexual and reproductive health.
Speaking at a virtual meeting yesterday organised by the World Economic Forum, she noted that recent analysis published in the Lancet Global Health suggested that a reduction in maternal health services of between just 9.8 to 18.5 per cent could lead to as many as 12, 200 additional maternal deaths over six months in low and middle-income countries.
According to Moeti, women in African Region account for around 40 per cent of COVID-19 cases, which ranged from 35 per cent in some countries to over 55 per cent in South Africa.
In Moeti’s words: “Humanitarian crises, including health emergencies affect men and women differently. As COVID-19 continues to spread in Africa, there are concerns over its impact on women and girls, with vulnerabilities feared to worsen as the pandemic overwhelms health systems.

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