The move comes in the wake of a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, which led to a 14-day suspension of both public and private transport, as a measure to control the movement of people. Under the arrangement, all persons intending to seek healthcare services were advised to seek movement permits from their respective RDC’s.
The National Women's Council has unveiled
a new model to identify and address emergency cases involving women in the
communities in the course of the Coronavirus Disease- COVID-19 lockdown.
Under the new 15-Household model,
representatives of National Women Council at every village will be tasked to closely
monitor homes with expectant mothers and patients and help them secure movement
clearances from Resident District Commissioners.
The move comes in the wake of a
nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, which led to a
14-day suspension of both public and private transport, as a measure to control
the movement of people. Under the arrangement, all persons intending to seek
healthcare services were advised to seek movement permits from their respective
RDC’s.
But this has resulted in public
outcry after hundreds of women failed to secure permits, putting their lives at
risk. Many women are also unable to go for their routine checkups after failing
to secure the permits.
The chairperson of the National
Women Council Hajjat Faridah Kibowa told journalists in Kampala says that the
council now intends to ensure that all women get services, as and when they
need them. Kibowa also observed an urgent need to maintain critical Sexual and
Reproductive Health Services at regular health units and quarantine centres.
//Cue in; “I strongly call…
Cue out ...the health facility.”//
Luganda //Cue in; “Era mukasera kano…
Cue out obunjanjabi oba okuzaala.”//
Meanwhile, Kibowa alerted the
security forces to keep a keen eye on cases of violence that have seemingly increased
during the lockdown. She avers that the prolonged confinement of families is a
recipe for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, especially when one is trapped
into quarantine with an abusive partner.
She equally cautioned women
against being provocative.
