How Covid-19 has exposed entrenched inequalities in South Africa

Coronavirus has impacted all of us in ways unimagined. From social distancing to isolation, this has been the hardest as most people needed various services included psychosocial support. I have been working with young women in various communities that include informal settlements and townships. I received calls with need for as food, medication for period pains, loneliness, uncertainty of life, and  some even wondering if they  will making it through the pandemic. Isolation in confined housing for family members of more than five sharing a two roomed makeshift house has been impossible with  fear of  loss of dignity for many. Young women in this situations have been unable to wash or change their sanitary pads regularly during menstruation. Most fear asking the adults to leave the room for them to wash. One young woman shared how she had not been able to wash and was experiencing itchiness in her vagina after failing to change her pad several times during her menstruation cycle. In addition, she cannot wash in the day as most people are on lockdown, and still loiter in the streets. Unfortunately, there are no toilets that offer protection and privacy for women and girls. In the last weeks, the tobacco industry launched a legal action against the government  to protest the cigarettes ban during lockdown, simply meaning no cigarettes would be sold to the public, as with the alcohol ban too. Yet, commodities such as sanitary pads, re-useable pads and underwear were not even considered.  Furthermore, there are no waste disposal management systems for pads in informal settlements. It's so trivial that with lockdown such decisions to ban alcohol and cigarettes were made, of course in light of linkages with gender based violence it is commendable. Though, the lack of consideration for women's health services and inaccessibility of menstrual health during lockdown is obvious that provisions for service such as sexual and reproductive health were less a priority. It is reticent of gender inequality on lockdown in our country. A sad state that lives many girls and women prone to health issues affecting them in the long run due to lack of provisions of sanitary commodities.  Consequently, menstrual health encompasses so much more which the government negated. With Menstruation day commemoration heading our way, I am sure there will be so much activity with dignity packs distribution and political mileage scoring.  Sadly, the moment for action and need was here and is  just about gone. These are a few of the many issues that have impacted my community and more than anything safety and security for women and girls remains problematic in these confined places.  In the first week of lockdown 87 000 cases of gender based violence were reported. Women feared the worst, being in isolation with the perpetrator and nowhere to go. And the restrictions in movement continue to affect many including those who need to leave the house to buy pads or seek help for some. The situation in dire for some who can't even afford sanitary pads.  The stories shared, made rendered me helpless because with lockdown restrictions. Permits are required for distribution of commodities that the government deemed essential such as food, water and soap. For the rest of the items, it makes for an impossible mission given the taboo around menstruation and having to tell a strange in a soldiers uniform or police man that you need to buy pads as you are menstruating.  In the case of COVID-19 in South Africa, women and girls are facing significant challenges in managing their menstruation safely, comfortably and with dignity. In such an emergency state, it is as though we learn nothing from the humanitarian  crisis-women and girls are left behind at every point and, sadly it is an after effect issue.