UN Women donates a consignment of WASH and safety materials to prevent spread of COVID-19

UN Women Liberia Country Representative, Marie Goreth Nizigama hands over WASH and safety materials to the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Honorable Williameta Piso Saydee-Tar at the Ministerial complex in Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia. Photo: UN Women Liberia

UN Women Liberia Country representative, Marie Goreth Nizigama handed over a consignment of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Safety materials to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection at the Ministerial complex in Congo Town, Monrovia on Monday, April 6, 2020.

The consignment included hand sanitizers, buckets, soap, face masks, hand gloves and rain gear among other things. The WASH materials will be distributed to a cross section of women through the Liberia Women’s network to prevent the spread of the corona virus disease (COVID 19).

Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Honorable Williameta Piso Saydee-Tar gives an appreciation speech during the handover ceremony. Photo: UN Women Liberia.

Speaking during the handover event, Ms. Nizigama highlighted that women play an important role in the fight against COVID 19 and UN Women wanted to ensure that all women, particularly those in rural areas get the correct information and they have the materials to use to prevent the spread of COVID 19.

“We want to ensure that women are engaged, and they continue to be agents of change like what they did during the fight against Ebola in 2014,” she said.

The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Honourable Saydee-Tar expressed her gratitude to UN Women for the gesture. She highlighted that the materials will help women, who are most vulnerable to fight the disease.

“During times like these, women are grossly affected and we want to ensure that women are protected,” she said.

Representatives of various women’s and other marginalized groups who attended the handover ceremony. Photo: UN Women Liberia

Meanwhile, twenty-three representatives from various women’s and other marginalized groups were trained on prevention and response for COVID 19 by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. The various groups included, Peace Hut Women of Liberia, Female Traditional Leaders, Liberia Marketing Association Women and Association of Women with disability and other Civil Society Networks. The training was conducted by Honourable. Roosevelt S. Klafleh, Assistant Minister for Research Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Gender, children and Social Protection.

UN Women is supporting the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to respond to COVID 19 in Liberia.