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The arrival of COVID-19 has further aggravated pre-existing problems within the country including political instability and food insecurity. Furthermore, the health care system lacks sufficient medical and appropriate protective equipment. The governement lockdown measures have made many people lose their jobs, while others, in the informal sectors, had to break movement restrictions by continuing to work in a contracting economy.
Many people have lost their jobs, while others, in the informal sectors, had to break movement restrictions by continuing to work in a contracting economy. This loss or reduction in livelihoods has led many to use up their depleting savings as well as selling assets to cover their basic needs. Furthermore, the health care system lacks sufficient medical equipment including appropriate protective equipment.
April 2020
As the COVID-19 virus spreads across Asia-Pacific, governments have started taking drastic public health measures to protect their citizens. While the threat of COVID-19 remains high across the region, we are witnessing a faster spread of the virus in countries such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines.
Mozambique mounted its response to COVID-19 whilst grappling with growing armed conflict in the north of the country and attempting to recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Idai in March 2019. While confirmed cases remain comparatively low, the economic and social fallout of COVID-19, coupled with these pre-existing vulnerabilities, has severely impacted older people in the country. HelpAge undertook this assessment in May 2020 in four provinces, working through local partners ACIDECO, APITE, ASADEC and Vukoxa.
Uganda has experienced a rapidly changing COVID-19 situation since the virus reached the country in March. The virus initially developed in urban areas and more recently has spread into several rural communities. As of August 26th, the cumulative number of confirmed cases and death from COVID-19 was 2,426 and 22, respectively. Unfortunately, the government does not disaggregate its data by age and gender so a contextual examination of the effect of COVID-19 on the population groups is not available.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause unprecedented socio-economic and health challenges in Zimbabwe. As of the 3rd of August, Zimbabwe had recorded 4,705 COVID-19 cases, 80 deaths and 1,057 recoveries.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented socio-economic and health challenges for older people in Zimbabwe. The crisis has resulted in the breakdown of an already weakened health sector that lacks sufficient medication and medical staff. Limited testing kits and the porous border with South Africa has meant the number of cases is likely to be far higher than reported. To assess the needs of older people in Zimbabwe in more detail, the Center for Community Development Solutions, with support from HelpAge International, conducted a rapid needs assessment in northern and eastern Zimbabwe in June.
Older people, especially older refugees, remain one of the most at risk groups in Uganda, both from COVID-19 and from pre-existing risks. Uganda hosts the third-largest refugee population in the world, and the largest in Africa. Therefore, to assess the needs of older refugees, HelpAge International conducted a rapid needs assessment in Adjumani Refugee Settlement in northern Uganda on the border with South Sudan in July.
In Iraq, COVID-19 has further exacerbated existing economic and insecurity and is putting older people at serious risk. Currently, many older people have had to reduce food intake while others are unable to access their essential medicine. To better understand the emerging needs of older people in Iraq Oxfam and HelpAge International undertook, in June, a multi-sector RNA.
With COVID-19 cases increasing and despite easing containment measures, many Kenyans, particularly older people living in Nairobi, remain at serious risk as many have lost their livelihoods and are struggling to meet their basic needs. HelpAge conducted an RNA to highlight the many risks older people face and to provide advocacy messages to humanitarian partners and the Kenyan government.
The impacts of COVID-19 are being strongly felt by almost all segments of Philippine society. However, older people are not only more likely to die of COVID-19 but are at also higher risk of abuse and being denied access to resources. To be able to adapt its programming and provide advocacy messages, The Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE) in partnership with HelpAge International undertook a multi-sector RNA in late May 2020.
