Upholding dignity of women and girls in times of crisis

UNFPA and the Australian High Commission recently handed over 1300 Dignity and 130 Maternity Kits, worth USD 35,230, made available under the Regional Pre-positioning Initiative, funded by the Government of Australia, to the Family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health.

 The current socio-economic crisis is having far-reaching implications on the ability of women and girls to live in dignity as rising inflation, power cuts, scarcity of food, fuel, and other essential items, such as medicines, have made meeting basic needs a daily challenge.

Evidence suggests such socio-economic challenges and its after-effects will have serious repercussions and exacerbate existing inequalities for women, girls and other marginalized groups; reducing their ability to access personal care, including essential items for postnatal maternal health and sanitary items. Given the drop in the level of disposable incomes in households, personal care will not be prioritized. As such women and girls may revert to using unhygienic practices that could impact their health and wellbeing.

The Dignity and Maternity kits provided contain personal hygiene and safety items, explicitly tailored to the needs of women and girls of reproductive age, including those in the postnatal period in local communities. The aim of this initiative is to provide the simplest amenities that have the greatest impact on a woman’s comfort, mobility and physical and psychological health.