World Health Organization Regional Director Africa Dr. Matseliso Moeti says 41 percent of the COVID-19 cases globally are women.
Moeti said this as the world prepares for the International Women’s Day and United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace, saying women are more likely to adhere to COVID-19 regulations than men. She added that most women are frontline workers and have shown leadership amidst the pandemic, highlighting that there is a need to design polices in a people’s centred manner in order to achieve gender equality.
She expressed hope that half of the African countries will have COVID-19 vaccination programme in motion by the end of March.
Regional Director United Nations (UN) Women West and Central Africa, Mrs. Oulimata Sarr stated that a vast majority of the economy has been lost due to lockdown imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She indicated that gender financing gap is huge adding that it has to be addressed.
International Women’s Day and United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace is marked annually on March 08.