Water, Women and the Virus

As we currently live amidst the global Coronavirus pandemic, the need for safety and hygiene is immensely vital to control the spread of the disease. We have continuously heard the words uttered: 'wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds'. But what do you do if you have inadequate access to clean running water and sanitation facilities to enable you to maintain a virus-safe environment? This, unfortunately, has been the harsh reality for many African nations as COVID-19 hit them with unprecedented challenges surrounding water. However, the outbreak has especially affected women. As almost 80% of women in the African continent play a major role in water provision for many rural households, the impacts of the virus have deepened their burden of collecting water whilst adversely putting them at risk of infection.

A report by UNWomen offers insights into the added impacts of the virus on water facilities and women, as well as potential interventions going forward to combat disproportionate consequences. Since women bare the responsibilities of household care, their increased strains of water collection have been noted. In a recent article, a short account of the events in the small Kenyan town of Kisumu reveals the struggles introduced by COVID-19. Firstly, the town battles for clean water access despite just metres away from Africa's largest freshwater body, Victoria Lake. The residents claim clean water is rather difficult to obtain. So, if the government advises washing hands with clean water, how can that be achieved? It is thus attempted by women having to regularly walk up to 2 kilometres to provide water for families in households washing their hands more than ever before. Another case in Ghana is the major use of dams as water collection points for many households, increasing the risk of infection due to the contact between multiple households at the dams. More so in South Africa, the worst hit country in terms of cases in the continent, major challenges approach as women in rural remote areas have reported to have been sent back home by many policemen regulating lockdown rules. Urgent calls are currently being made to alert the government towards action for rural communities. However, slow progress to improve water infrastructure despite dedicated government funds for water in its COVID-19 assistance plan leave many women on the ground still battling against the added burden.

As we've established the close connection of water, sanitation and menstruation struggles amongst women, the pandemic didn't arrive with yet more hardship in the battle against period poverty. A special issue of World Menstrual Hygiene day features what the virus means for menstrual health and hygiene for women all over the globe:  

                                                                     Source: MenstrualHygieneDay, 2020

Ways forward for women, water and the virus?

Firstly and above all, especially since the novel COVID-19 is a new type of virus still being understood by scientists by the day, it is vital for updated critical information to be reached to smaller communities. This includes understanding what the virus is, how it may be transmitted, the common symptoms to be aware of and effective ways to prevent infection through certain WASH practices. Second, is the urgent advocacy for the increased water and soap supplies upon recognising the gender-specific challenges associated. The UNWomen organisation has travelled further to try and ensure services such as systemised trucking to avoid overcrowding at water collection points. Additionally, increased water storage and harvesting, where appropriate may help scale down the frequency of water collection in a day. 

In regards to merging menstrual hygiene in proposed action, calls have been made to seek partnership with private entities to provide menstrual products as well as age-appropriate information for girls in the circumstances of lockdown, since many menstrual kits are normally provided at schools, which have been closed. Lastly, to assist in both safe menstrual hygiene management as well as an overall reduced risk of coronavirus infections, the provision of gender-sensitive locations and facilities for WASH may help enable distancing, a lower toilet sharing ratio and greater sense of privacy and dignity for women. 

So, as inadequate access to basic water and sanitation plagues much of the Sub-Saharan African region, particularly affecting women, the spark of a Coronavirus outbreak has further intensified the need for improved facilities in many remote rural areas. It is only then that nations may increase their strength to fight against the invisible killer and restore healthy, sustainable livelihoods.