Global Bridge Network’s blog: ACTIONS by SORAK under COVID-19 among vulnerable communities

study on the effect of COVID-19 among girls and women

Brief situation on COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the corona virus outbreak to be a global pandemic-a classification used once an epidemic grows in multiple countries and continents at the same time. Most countries in the world have registered at least a COVID-19 case with numbers in Africa, as of April 15th, hovering over 10,000.

In Uganda, the first case of the ‘novel’ corona virus was reported on March 22, it was a 36-year-old male who arrived from Dubai. President of Uganda subsequently announced an extensive list of measures to stop the spread of the virus; including closing the Ugandan borders land and air, closure of all institutions of education, a ban on both public and private transport, 14-day lockdown followed by a 7 pm curfew.

Resident district commissioners (RDC’s) were given new powers as the sole granters of permission for the sick to access health centers. The 14-day lockdown later on 30^th April 2020 was extended for another 21 days sending shiver to poor agitated subsistence earners who had anticipated to hit back to their daily work to earn a living.

As of 20^th April, Uganda has reported 55 COVID-19 cases, 28 cured and zero deaths. The lockdown that was anticipated to last for a few weeks turned out to be months. It was only eased in October 2020 when schools were allowed to operate with only candidate classes, gatherings in prayer places and meetings limited to 70 persons with strict adherence to SoPs.

The COVID-19 period also coincided with those national general elections inclusive of presidential and parliamentary. Here the regulations also restricted gatherings and processions to only 200 persons. As of January 7^th 2021, Uganda had 222 new cases, bringing an accumulative total to 37,296.　Uganda had 300 cumulative deaths, 12,619 cumulative recoveries with a total of 775,941 tested

Actions undertook by SORAK toward COVID-19 pandemic

Action 1: Conducting focus group discussions with vulnerable women and girls to assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdown in their livelihoods and rights in July 2020

The key findings were;

· Most girls have lost hope of going back to school and had resorted to early marriage

· There had been increased domestic violence as a result of lockdown. That made men stay hope jobless

· Increased sexual abuse and violence (rape and defilement) against girl children who now lacked school stay and protection due to lockdown.

· Increased adolescent girls and women unwanted pregnancy due to redundancy of men, women and girls stay at home.

· This has resulted into many unwanted children ”COVID-19 babies”

· Loss of economic activity especially among women who were working in markets as market vendors due to their closure during lockdown.

Focus group discussion about the impact of COVID-19

Action 2: Moved to villages and sensitized them about the dangers of early marriage and pregnancy especially during lockdown when adolescent girls are at home in August 2020.

Note:　the dangers are; early and unwanted pregnancy, exposure to sexually transmitted infections, death related to sexual abuse, it is criminal and punishable by imprisonment. This was a danger during lockdown because girls no longer going to school that keeps them occupied and protected. Police advice given that reporting sexual abuse as soon as it occurs, avoiding risky places for girls, keeping girls safe and protected, keeping girls busy at home, skilling, doing art and craft etc.

With police officer sensitizing communities
on the dangers of sexual abuse and violence during lockdown

Action 3: Identified vulnerable women and youth and provided them with bean and maize seeds (from SORAK Director’s self-fund) which they planted in order to address the food security concerns.

Handing over maize seeds to Kabubbu Youth group –Kibalinga subcounty

Vulnerable women of Nkandwa Parish –kibalinga subcounty
provided with beans seeds　

Action 4: With support from Peace Corps with provided mosquito nets to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in July2020

SORAK Executive Director handing over mosquito nets

to vulnerable mothers

Action 5: With support from Untapped Shores International USA Inc, trained vulnerable girls and teen mothers in the Water, sanitation and hygiene entrepreneurship via making water tanks.

It is a business or enterprise that deals in the promotion of water, sanitation and hygiene through making of water tanks for sale or a fee. This would also address water needs for hand washing, and other domestic use especially during COVID-19 when hand washing is crucial. Girls are trained in order to be able to make tanks for as many households as they can demand. They are able to earn money for every tank they make on demand.　Girls can also make tanks at a fee to able to pay households and hence earn income and a living.