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Ageing and COVID-19 in the Arab region: Leaving no one behind
Older persons are the most vulnerable to COVID-19 and therefore more likely to require hospitalization when infected. Ageing is commonly associated with morbidities such as hypertension and diabetes, making older people more susceptible to hospitalization and death. In resource-poor settings, limited health care facilities and the lack of ventilators and oxygen supply can significantly add to death rates among older persons with COVID-19. The COVID-19 mortality rate varies across regions and is determined by a range of factors. Of these, the most notable are: demographic profile, population age structure, number of persons tested and cases detected, health system capacity, accuracy of reporting of COVID-19 deaths, plus compliance in implementing WHO guidance for prevention against transmission
of the disease (e.g. physical distancing,isolation of infected people and frequent sanitizing).
COVID-19 Situation Report No. 4 for UNFPA Arab States
Regional Highlight: All countries in the region have now confirmed COVID-19 cases with a consistent increase in infection cases and deaths including in some of the most fragile countries in the region such as Yemen, Somalia, Syria and Libya. People’s resilience is weakened, and while even developed public health systems struggle to cope, the most fragile health systems are ill-equipped for the COVID-19 response.
Impact of Public Health Emergencies on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights in the Arab Region
In the last decade the world has experienced many public health emergencies, similar to the current novel COVID19 pandemic (e.g. Ebola, MERS, Cholera, Polio and Zika epidemics). Demand on health care services continued during health emergencies including general health care such as Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), mental health services, immunization programs, as well as SRH services such as family planning (FP) and maternal health (MH)1,2. Although often overlooked, SRH is essential for sustainable development and women’s empowerment3. SRH is a basic human right, which has been captured in many international agreements such as the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPDPoA), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially goal 3 on health and goal 5 on gender equality, as well as the commitments made during the World Humanitarian Summit (2016), to name a few. While these international conventions and treaties have been ratified by almost all countries and have called for giving more importance to reproductive health during crises, SRH is still not well prioritized at the level of other needs such as food, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), or shelter.
COVID-19 - UNFPA Global Response Plan – Revised June 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic constitutes the largest global public health crisis in a century, with daunting health and socioeconomic challenges. Governments are taking unprecedented measures to limit the spread of the virus, ramping up health systems and restricting the movement of millions. The pandemic is severely disrupting access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health services. It is deepening existing gender inequalities, increasing gender-based violence, and worsening discrimination and barriers for marginalized groups. Sexual and reproductive health and rights is a significant public health issue that demands urgent and sustained attention and investment. UNFPA is providing this June 2020 revision to its Global Response Plan, to reflect upon the changing needs, align with partners, learn from UNFPA action already underway and to further focus UNFPA’s interventions. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, new UNFPA research has shown the enormous scale of the negative unintended consequences and potential impact.
COVID-19 DISRUPTING SDG 5.3: ELIMINATING FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
This technical note supports the development of preparedness and response plans for addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on girls and women at risk of and affected by female genital mutilation. While the technical note is intended for UNFPA and UNICEF Joint Programme staff and implementing partners, other UN agencies, governments, civil society, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may find it beneficial as well. The brief in no way suggests a “one size fits all” approach. Prevention and containment measures (e.g., gathering restrictions and quarantine) are contextual and may shift over time. For this reason, assessing the implications of COVID-19 on current female genital mutilation programmes is critical in understanding how the pandemic increases girls’ and women’s vulnerability and marginalization.
COVID-19 Situation Report No. 3 for UNFPA Arab States
The region hosts some of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 62.5 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance, including 15.5 million women of reproductive age of whom an estimated 1.5 million are pregnant.
All countries in the region have now confirmed Covid-19 cases. The numbers continue to rise and have doubled since the last report on 30 April. After years of protracted crisis, people’s resilience is weakened, and the fragile health systems in countries such as Yemen, Syria, Libya, and Somalia, are ill-equipped for the COVID-19 response. Governments have adopted various forms of partial or complete lockdowns. The deteriorating socio-economic situation creates further hardship in already fragile settings.
COVID-19 Situation Report No. 2 for UNFPA Arab States
"At regional level, UNFPA participates in the WHO regional crisis management group and sub-working groups (risk communication and community engagement; humanitarian settings and displaced population) and co-chairs the regional inter-agency gender theme group and its GBV Covid-19 sub-working group, ensuring integration of GBV within health. Country offices are working closely with other UN agencies, governments, and other partners for the continuation of services and safeguard gains in SRH and GBV. UNFPA is engaged through the UN Country Team coordination mechanisms and supports the respective national Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Plans. These ensure prioritization of SRH and GBV concerns and to look beyond the immediate impacts of the pandemic."
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Family Planning and Ending Gender-based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage
UNFPA aims to achieve three world-changing results by 2030, the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. These are: Ending unmet need for family planning, ending gender-based violence including harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage, and ending all preventable maternal deaths. COVID-19 pandemic could critically undermine progress made towards achieving these goals.
UNFPA 2020 Core Resources Mobilization
The three transformative results set out in UNFPA’s Strategic Plan 2018-21 in support of the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development cannot be achieved without securing adequate level of core resources, intensifying programmatic approaches, maintaining a global presence, and mobilizing additional resources to scale up results.
Every year, UNFPA appreciates the core mobilized support from Governments to pursue the organization's Vision 2030 and transformative results: zero unmet need for family planning; zero preventable maternal deaths; and zero harmful practices and gender-based violence.
Core resources are the foundation for all UNFPA programmes which aim to leave no one behind. UNFPA’s objective in 2020 is to rally a diverse coalition of contributors around our shared mandate: “Ensuring Rights and Choices for All”. We aim at mobilizing at least 150 governments globally towards this effort .
UNFPA Arab States COVID-19 Situation Report No. 1
All countries in the region have confirmed cases and the disease may now spread quickly.