FG urged to consider women, vulnerable, others in containment plan for COVID-19

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Plan International Nigeria, has called on the federal government to be all-inclusive and strategic in its approach and consider women, children and other vulnerable members of the country in combating the ravaging coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The organization, which made its position known in a policy briefing on the pandemic, stated that there is need for an “Inclusive ‘People-Centric’ Approach” towards curbing the pandemic.

The country director, Plan International Nigeria, Dr Hussaini Abdu, said it is critical that all containment and mitigation policies, systems and actions pay adequate attention to concerns of the poor, voiceless and vulnerable, especially women and adolescent girls in the face of stringent response by the government to the pandemic.

“Central to this response is the protection of the rights of people, especially children, adolescent girls, IDPs, migrant communities, minorities, the poor and vulnerable to their rights to life and dignity.”

Abdu particularly called for the protection of children, girls and women who often are more at risk in emergency situations, adding that  the lock-down in cities and major informal market centres will further compound the condition of these groups and it is therefore important for the government to invest and support the livelihoods of the poor and the vulnerable.

“It is important to recognise that violence against women and girls (including intimate partner violence) tends to increase during emergencies. The COVID-19 response must therefore provide mechanisms to ensure adequately resourced, accessible and sensitive essential services to address gender-based violence (GBV). This can be done in collaboration NGOs which have capacity and experience in GBV response.”

He applauded the renewed commitment of the federal and state governments while encouraging private sector interest in tackling the COVID-19 challenge through the imposition of movement restrictions and social distancing.

The organisation, which declared a red alert emergency on COVID-19, has committed to working with governments at all levels, pledging to commit parts of its resources to tackling the spread of the virus.

It also called for decentralisation of testing centres to all states of the federation as well as giving accreditation to diagnostic centres and private hospitals that have the capacity to be involved in testing.

Dr Abdu emphasised the need for development partners, who have been major contributors to the health sector over the years, to reprogramme existing funding to support the COVID-19 response, adding that the development and humanitarian agencies must rise to the occasion to support communities with public health information and emergency relief, especially for the poor and vulnerable.