Ramaphosa: Covid-19 resource allocation has ‘severe’ impact on women
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the reallocation of resources to battle Covid-19 has been as the expense of the health of women around of the world.
Ramahosa was speaking at the virtual launch of the United Nations Secretary General’s Independent Accountability Panel 2020 Report on Monday.
Ramaphosa said the coronavirus pandemic has once again highlighted the value of universal health coverage.
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"Many face challenges of extreme poverty, a lack of basic infrastructure and services, inadequate social protection systems, poor health care capacity and pre-existing disease burdens.
"The pandemic is placing an additional burden on already constraint health system. This global crisis has started highlighted the value of universal health coverage in response to a health emergency and needs for the robust health system to save lives.”
He said, however, that countries have had to reprioritise the allocation of resources in response to the virus.
"The health of women has been severely impacted through this reallocation particularly in sexual and reproductive health services.
"There is a real danger that this will contribute in maternal and new born mortalities, increases unmet need for contraception and unprecedented numbers of unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections."
Ramaphosa called on global leaders to ensure that the pandemic does not worsen already existing inequalities.
"Or impede the realisation of the rise of women and girls. We must ensure that our response enables young people - in particular - shape the world that will rise from this crisis.”