Women have been the most affected during this pandemic. Women across the country have found ways of strengthening COVID 19 preventive and mitigation measures. Halima Dida who is a member of Isiolo Women of Faith Network shared her story.
What is your name? Halima Dida Golicha
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you?
It has greatly affected my work, due to the given guidelines by the Ministry of health, I’m not able to meet the community members in their environs as I used to and that has forced me to work from home and try to do things differently while adhering to the safety measures.
How has COVID-19 pandemic affected women in your country/area?
Women have been affected economically especially the ones who were running small scale businesses during the evening hours, they no longer have any source of livelihood as their businesses have been closed down due to curfew hours.
The small scale businesses which are run by women in Isiolo County during the evening hour’s example selling of tea and mandazi, sell of miraa have been affected adversely since some even operate at nights.
To counter the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on women, they need access to useful information on how to live with the virus, how well to protect their families, and in the process, women will educate other women and the society at large
What do you think should be done to counter the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on women?
There has been an increase of gender-based violence during this period of COVID-19, in most cases, women have been the victims which has affected them psychologically and also affected the general well-being of their children.
To counter the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on women, they need access to useful information on how to live with the virus, how well to protect their families, and in the process, women will educate other women and the society at large.
Women need a support system to give them counseling on how to deal with the loss of jobs/closure of businesses and how best to cope with financial challenges they are facing since most low-income families have women as the sole breadwinners.
Women need a support system to give them counseling on how to deal with the loss of jobs/closure of businesses and how best to cope with financial challenges they are facing since most low-income families have women as the sole breadwinners.
There is a need to have a representation of women at the county COVID-19 management committee to ensure issues affecting women during this pandemic are well addressed.
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