Sexual healthcare efforts falter in Africa as countries focus on COVID-19

Woman that are members of the young mothers, and breast feeding women group gather regularly to discuss sexual reproductive health, and family planning options. Here they are going through a breast feeding lesson and self empowerment session. They are supported by DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung), an international development and advocacy organization with focus on achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

As African countries impose measures to prevent the spread of highly contagious Covid-19, sexual and reproductive health workers are finding their work increasingly difficult, from transportation bans to rules that could put a pregnant woman’s life in jeopardy, according to an international sexual health group.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is a health crisis across every setting, and that includes sexual and reproductive health care,” says International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Director General Dr. Alvaro Bermejo.

According to the latest statistics from John Hopkins University in the US, Comoros and Lesotho are the only African countries that remain virus-free. In an effort to try and fight the extremely contagious Covid-19, African governments have moved funds regularly earmarked for healthcare and reproductive healthcare to dealing with the virus.