Advancing the sexual, reproductive health, rights of women and girls during Covid-19 pandemic

By Omodele Ibitoye Ejeh:

Women and girls will need access to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) which becomes more difficult to access during crises situation and in crises areas.

In partnership with Global Fund for Women, IRISE (Initiative to Resist Institutional Slavery and Exploitation) has been collaborating with One Billion Rising and Virtuous Progressive Women organization, with focus on Advancing the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women and Girls, through Comprehensive Sexuality Education, leadership training, peer counseling, telecounseling/teleconferencing services .

These programs are targeted at girls and women living in low income, underdeveloped, rural communities, individuals living in urban areas, activists, women rights defenders, sex workers, trafficking survivors, community based organization/civil society organizations. Previous works of the organization (IRISE) includes working with internally displaced persons and individuals in post conflict zones.

People are being held down by religion and cultural norms, which makes it difficult for them to access Sexual, reproductive health care and education. IRISE takes its audience through  a curriculum based method of education that provides basic knowledge, skills, attitude and values  to enable persons( especially young people in this context) make appropriate and healthy choices concerning their sexual , reproductive health and rights.

This method of education promotes gender equality, it honestly acknowledges the fact that young people will be sexually active in their future, Comprehensive Sexuality education  informs, empower and enable them plan ahead to make the healthiest possible sexual decisions. CSE inform young people about their sexual, reproductive health and right, promote abstinence, and help young people, girls and women think about the importance of safe sex and contraception. It equips young people, girls, and women with the attitude, skills and knowledge needed to avoid unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, clandestine/unsafe abortion procedures which may lead to injuries, disability and death. And also lower the rate of domestic and sexual violence, thus contributing to a healthier society physically and mentally. CSE is important to reach young people before they become sexually active and when they are sexually active.

“Preparing children and young people for the transition to adulthood has always been one of humanity’s great challenges, with human sexuality and relationship at its core. Today, in a world with AIDS, how we meet this challenge is our most important opportunity in breaking the trajectory of the epidemic.”

Michel Sidibe, Executive Director, UNAID.

Education Materials: Education materials are compiled, most in question and answer form to answer questions that seem easy or common knowledge for us working on women’s rights but are actually not common and easy knowledge for most adolescent girls and women, living in low income rural areas, including girls and women living in urban areas. 

Workshops are designed to equip young people and women with information that is relevant and accurate, information that teaches life skills to promote decision making , negotiations, communication, critical thinking , and to also make certain that young people  and women have access to counseling and referral and SRHR services that are affordable and non-judgmental. To enable them: Take advantage of education and other opportunities that will impact their life-long wellbeing; Be informed about period puberty and hygiene; Avoid unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion; Improve their sexual, reproductive health and protect themselves against STI’s and HIV; Understand and question social norms and practices concerning sexuality, gender, relationships and contribute positively to society and Be better equipped to face other challenges in life, especially during the transition period from childhood to adulthood 

In addition to the good work of IRISE( Initiative to Resist Institutional Slavery and Exploitation) , the organization responded urgently  and organized emergency SRHR Community Sensitization programs for 3 days in  in Kwara State during the #EndSars protest, at this time when the impact of Covid-19 has stretched and shifted household priorities. In addition to excruciating hardship, extreme poverty and hunger, women and girls now have no choice but to prioritize food over health care, contraceptives, and sanitary pads.

We are seeing recorded, an upsurge on sexual assaults and teenage pregnancy .The Lockdown increased the rate of Gender base violence, especially among rural dwellers, access to healthcare and food was difficult in low income villages where health care facilities are in far distance. Mortality rate increased significantly during pregnancy, child birth, and due to clandestine, unsafe abortion. The situation exposed large number of young women and girls in low income villages with little or no access and knowledge of SRHR education to risks. IRISE made provision for food to communities, sanitary pads, and small cash incentives to girls and young women of age 25 years and below.

The organization also gave out SHRH education materials Written in English and Yoruba languages. About one thousand , one hundred and two women and girls profited directly from this Three days emergency program, this led to a radical approach to sensitizing  communities,  preventing them from getting harmed when they try to get food, Sanitary pad or access health care, their prepaid telephone line was available for SHRH tele-counselling and referral services.

With restrictions on physical gatherings in large numbers because of  the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, IRISE organizes leadership training pop-up workshops online, and offline with not more than 20 Young people per workshop, in low income unplanned communities. Young people are being trained as champions at grassroots level with useful information on their sexuality, how to access safe services to avoid or reduce harmful practices. Our pop-up workshops are designed to equip young people to face challenges pertaining to the development of their bodies and receive accurate information about their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

^{Ibitoye Ejeh is the Executive Director, IRISE and Coordinator, One Billion Rising, Nigeria}