Luanda – Angola's first lady Ana Dias Lourenço Tuesday spoke of the need to pay greater attention to women and girls in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), protecting them from the effects of the pandemic of Covid-19 in the economy.
Ana Dias Lourenço made appel at the SADC Virtual First Ladies Summit, which takes place under the theme “The Impact of Covid-19 in the SADC region - How recovery can be a gender responsibility”.
The first lady pointed out the need to mobilise resources for the implementation of actions in favour of women and girls and the strategy for the recovery of the economies of the States in the region.
According to her, Covid-19 tested the human capacity for tolerance and survival, which widened gender inequalities, with mandatory restrictions imposed to reduce the risks and damages to which populations are exposed.
Ana Dias Lourenço also pointed out, as consequences, school dropout and weakened physical and mental health.
In the particular case of Angola, Ana Dias Lourenço highlighted the actions taken by the Executive to protect the most vulnerable populations, including women, girls, the elderly, the chronically ill, health professionals and workers in the informal market, to reduce the impact of Covid-19 , such as automation and the empowerment of rural women.
She stressed the involvement of her office and platforms led by her, such as the distribution of means of biosecurity, food baskets and some comfort in terms of communication, in favour of vulnerable women, in particular those affected by HIV / AIDS, for compliance of the rules.
As an example, she spoke of 41,731 positive cases, 37 percent of which were women aged 30 to 49 years, constituting a concern for being the livelihood and guarantor of families, whose distancing due to Covid-19 or death is a risk for families.
She urged the participants to lend their knowledge, experience and dedication, creating synergies to find solutions to solve the problems that affect women and girls in the southern region of the African continent.
The First Ladies Summit takes place on the sidelines of the 41st Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Lilongwe, Malawi.
Angola is represented at the event by a delegation headed by the minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António.
