“So that women do not pay the highest price of the Covid-19 pandemic” is an online training launched by, prepared and presented by Nihad Abulkomsan, Chairperson of the Egyptian Centre for Women’s Rights (ECWR). The most recent episode was titled “In the battle against coronavirus, women win”, and reviewed the efforts of women leaders around the world to face the coronavirus crisis.
Ms Abulkomsan referred to a published study which concluded that countries recording the least COVID-19 cases and the fewest related deaths were led by women, whether as president, prime minister, minister or chancellor.
In Germany, New Zealand, Denmark, and all Scandinavian countries, women have shouldered the responsibility of managing the coronavirus crisis; the policies they implemented resulted in less COVID-19 cases and fewer deaths.
These measures included, among others, focusing on the awareness of children, who normally play a vital role in pushing adults to abide by the cautionary measures adopted by the country to limit the spread of the virus. They also recruited public influencers to spread awareness, and imposed early lockdown to control the virus spread.
In case of Egypt, the crisis has been contained by virtue of the momentous efforts of Health Minister Hala Zayed. Yet, Ms Abulkomsan said, despite Dr Zayed’s gigantic work, she has been victim of attacks in the media and social media, that can only be attributed to her being a woman; the harsh criticism directed at her bordered on bullying. Yet she was also praised by unbiased observers, with German news agencies highly commending her role and the role of all women leaders in North Africa in facing the pandemic.
Ms Abulkomsan pointed out that 70 per cent of those working in the medical sector in Egypt are women, yet only 25 per cent of them have a voice in decision making. If anything, she said, this deprives society of their valuable experience, capabilities and intelligence, all of which can make a big difference in confronting crises and disasters.
Watani International
26October 2020