Lifesaving Sanitation Project at Grace Orphanage

On 15 October 2020, schools were opened for only candidate classes, In Uganda, schools have been shuttered for the past seven months but without the support system of teachers and school administrators, many girls were left vulnerable to teenage pregnancy, early childhood marriage and gender-based violence, among other devastating effects of Covid-19. Girl Child Health Initiative has recognized the need for increased engagement with adolescent girls in their community.

Teenage pregnancies, among other risk factors, are adding to the number of girls who are not in school. Even before Covid-19, there were 98 million adolescent girls worldwide who were not in school and research suggests the pandemic has added 20 million more. While it is true that everyone has struggled with the fallout of this global pandemic, it has had more serious consequences on some of the most vulnerable populations. Unfortunately, adolescent girls have been among the most adversely affected and for some, life has become downright dangerous.

In addition to early marriage, many girls are also having to enter the workforce at a young age to help provide for their families. In some communities, girls are also forced to take on much of the domestic work at home, keeping them from seeing their friends and joining community-building activities. When schools reopen, many of these girls will not go back.

It should be noted that Covid-19 has also resulted in a secondary health crisis in Uganda. In some communities, girls have tried to remove their unborn babies themselves to terminate their pregnancies since school don’t allow teenage mothers and pregnant girls continues schooling. The pandemic has also resulted in limited access to health services for girls and prescription medication has been very limited. And, the effects on girls’ mental health is equally as troubling. Without their support systems, many girls have no outlet for the stress they are feeling during this devastating time.

These numbers are heartbreaking. As an organization, we are moving into the rural areas now to engage girls as we making it a priority to reach even more girls as this pandemic rolls on.