Question

3. What kinds of inequalities are exacerbated by health emergencies and pandemics according to Susan Papp?

Answer 1

According to Susan Papp, during the times of health emergencies and pandemics, gender inequalities are often exacerbated. She often describes in many of her speeches that 70% of the total workforce related to medical activity and healthcare around the globe are women. Still they are not provided with the status and security that they require in these tough times of COVID-19 pandemic. She defines that during a situation like this, women undergo a different experience when compared to men and are more vulnerable due to the preexisting norms of inequalities all around the world.

During this time, she states that the first priority of the government should be to safeguard these workforces, so that they can later save the lives of other. Since the majority of workforce are women, therefore they are more at risk of getting infection. Proper training, equipment and protective gears must be provided in sufficient quantity. She also shows concern about the existing structure of the health-care bodies in which all the major rights to take decisions are limited to men only.

Not collecting a separate data based on gender and age can delay or prevent effective decisions and hinder recovery. The same mistake happened during the times of Ebola and cholera outbreak which is still continuing during the COVID-19 pandemic. She firmly blames our traditional norms that makes women and girls more suitable for the role of caregiver and at the same time making them more vulnerable towards the chances of getting infected through contact. Another big problem that women faces during these times is the diversion of healthcare attention towards pandemic and ignoring other important maternal and reproductive medical needs. It was estimated that during the time of Ebola outbreak in Africa, maternal mortality increased by devastating 75%.

A pandemic outbreak does not mean that the other existing challenges for women in her daily life like domestic violence, contraception, and abortion have come to end. In fact, during these lockdown times, they are suffering even more to get the attention of authorities towards these issues. She also condemns the fact that more than 70% of all the top most positions in the world are held by men and she strongly insists that these issues and inequalities can only be addressed if more women are being promoted to leadership roles.