Federal and state governments have been called upon to scale up response for women and the most vulnerable during this period of coronavirus pandemic to save them from greater risk of falling into poverty.
In a statement by the chief executive officer of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with concern for women and children, Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC), Christy Abayomi-Oluwole, in Ilorin on Monday, she said that nearly 60 per cent of women globally work in the informal economy.
“Although, the pandemic affects everyone, everywhere; it affects different populations differently.
Nearly 60 per cent of women globally work in the informal economy, earning less, saving less, and at greater risk of falling into poverty”, she said.
Abayomi-Oluwole, who said that the pandemic has deepened existing inequalities, added that lockdown, occasioned by government directive to curtail spread of the pandemic, has led to closure of businesses and school.
“To ensure maximum success in fighting back the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, GLOHWOC calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kwara State Government to strategically channel the financial and livelihood support to women and other vulnerable populations to ensure an efficient, effective and impactful response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“This could be achieved by: Putting women at the centre at the centre of policy change, solution and distribution of relief materials for COVID-19; Meaningful inclusion of women in the COVID-19 taskforces at State and National levels;Engagement of Civil Society organizations/Womens Rights Organizations in policy change, solution and distribution of relief materials for COVID-19”, she said.
The organization, which applauded the governments at all levels on the preventive measures taken to curtail the spread of Coronavirus pandemic, also commended them for efforts and measures employed to urgently mobilize resources to address the impact of COVID-19.
“We specially appreciate the Kwara State Government for the prompt opening of an Isolation Centre at Sobi, Ilorin, Kwara State, and for the proactive step taken on April 9, 2020 to curb the spread of COVID-19 by ordering for a total lockdown of all the 16 local government areas following the report of two positive cases of COVID-19 in the state.
“Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq took a step in the right direction towards curtailing the spread of the virus by going into self-isolation on his return from the NEC meeting in Abuja. He also facilitated 14 days self-isolation of the caregivers of the two people that were tested positive in Kwara state while ensuring that all the index cases were tested promptly” she said.
She also said that the GLOHWOC, with support from Global Affairs Canada and ActionAid Nigeria through the Womens Voice and Leadership (WVL) Nigeria Project is carrying out sensitization on the prevention and measures to curb the spread of the pandemic, adding that it is supporting 120 women with cash transfer to cushion the effect of the pandemic.
Data indicates that as at Sunday, 12th April, 2020: Coronavirus has affected 210 countries, killed 110,006 people worldwide and 11 in Nigeria . While there have been 1,795,763 confirmed cases worldwide and 318 confirmed cases in Nigeria. 402,709 have recovered from the disease worldwide and 70 people in Nigeria have recovered from the disease.
