1.
Niger’sFirstLadyon COVID-19impacton women
04 March 2021
WHO Africa,Niamey –At the helmof Tattali Iyali Foundation –a charity organization,Niger’sFirst
Lady, HerExcellencyDrLallaMalikaIssoufou,hassupportedthe country’seffortstocombatthe
COVID-19pandemic.She explainsthe impactthe pandemichashadon womenandthe measuresto
protectthemfrom furthervulnerabilities.
The COVID-19 pandemichashada significantsocio-economicimpact.Intermsof the economythere
has beenadecline instate tax revenue,budgetdeficitandpublicservices.Risingpovertymeans
deepervulnerabilitiesandsocial inequalities.Unfortunately,womenpayahigherprice.Povertyisa
keyissue because itdeeplyaffects,especiallywomeninrural areas.Many womenrelyonthe often-
unstable earningsof theirspouses.Curfews,lockdownsandbordersclosuresdisruptedincoming-
generatingactivities,causingdramaticeconomicvulnerabilityforwomen –the pandemicdepleted
householdeconomies.
Whenit comesto health,womenare more exposedtothe virusashealthworkers,social workers
and particularlyasmotherswhotake care of the ill andthe vulnerable inthe family.There hasalso
beenpsychological impactlinkedtoCOVID-19stigmaexperiencedatthe onsetof the pandemic.This
significantlydiscouragedpeoplefromseekinghealthservices,butalsodue tofearedof being
infected.Domesticandsexual violence againstwomenandchildrenalsorose duringthe lockdowns.
In addition,Tattali Iyali Foundationsupportsthe governmenttoensure health,safetyandwellbeing
of womenandgirls[suchas througheducation].Evenbefore the pandemicwe facedsignificant
challengesinenrollingandkeepinggirlsinschools.Theseare challengesthe foundationishelpingto
tackle.
MeasurestakenbyTattali Iyali FoundationtomitigateCOVID-19impactonwomeninclude raising
awarenessbybroadcastinghealthmessagesonnational televisionaimedatwomeninrural and
urban settings.
The Tattali Iyali Foundationalsodistributedhandwashingkits,masksandfoodtothe most
vulnerable womenwhoseincomegeneratingactivitieswere disruptedbecause of the pandemic.The
foundationalsodistributedsewingmachinesto revive income-generatingactivitiesandtoempower
women.
Withfinancial supportfromthe UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme,the foundationalso
supportedthe implementationof the national plantocontainthe COVID-19pandemic.The overall
objective of the planistocombat COVID-19and at the same time worktowardsattainingthe
Sustainable DevelopmentGoal 15 [onpreservingterrestrial ecosystems] tosupportlivelihoods.
These measurestakenbythe Tattali Iyali Foundationmake adifference asthey linkresilience with
developmentandare not limitedtoemergencyresponse.
That communicationhasbeenveryefficientinpreventingCOVID-19infectionsandis[one of the]
mosteffective waystoendit.These measuresmustcontinueandbe enhancedtoimprove women’s
healthandwellbeingaswell thatof theirfamilies.
Supportingthe revival of women’seconomicactivitiesnotonlystrengthenstheirresilience butalso
enablesthemtogainfinancial independence.Itiscrucial to continue providingthis assistance.