A ROYAL lifeline that supported thousands of Bahraini women and their families during Covid-19 stands testimony to women’s role in fighting the pandemic.
The Supreme Council for Women (SCW) launched two initiatives which have so far served more than 6,000 women-supported families in less than 50 days, Shura Council member Dr Ebtisam Al Dallal said.
She also highlighted efforts of Bahraini female diplomats at the Foreign Ministry who ensured the safe return home of around 6,000 Bahraini women.
Dr Al Dallal was among a panel of speakers from around the globe at a webinar organised by the Bahrain Businesswomen Society (BBS).
“The SCW has directed all its attention and expertise to support the work being done by Team Bahrain in service of Bahraini women and their families to ensure the highest levels of personal and professional stability for them,” she said.
The GDN reported in May that the initiative themed “Together for the safety of Bahrain” (Moutakatifeen) was launched following directives from Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and SCW president.
The campaign offered families help in kind, psychological and business consultancy, judicial and educational services and also supplied them with consumer products, sanitisers, medical equipment and medicines for people suffering from chronic diseases.
“During the pandemic, SCW provided invaluable support to Bahraini women and their families through consultations and qualitative aid and a number of Bahraini women took part in a voluntary campaign launched by the Capital Governorate,” Dr Al Dallal said.
“The Foreign Ministry ensured the safe return home of around 6,000 Bahraini women.
“Let’s not forget the tireless services delivered by Bahraini female diplomats to serve Bahrainis in host countries during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The webinar addressed the role of civil society and the legislative organisation in supporting women during the pandemic.
Describing the virus as “much more than just a health crisis”, the medic underlined its “potential” to create devastating social, economic and political implications, especially on women.
“Every day, people are losing jobs and incomes are diminishing, with no way of knowing when normality will return,” said Dr Al Dallal who is also chief executive and consultant pedodontist at Al Kindi Specialised Hospital and Medical Centre.
“For women, risks are even greater.
“Yet in Bahrain, the situation so far has been different. The strength of character of Bahraini women, from a historical perspective, has always been to overcome challenges, alongside men.”
In July a video released by the UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States highlighted that women in the region perform almost five times more unpaid household and home-care jobs than men, and are more prone to catching Covid-19.
The two-and-a-half minute video, #WomenAndCovid, cited the urgency to prioritise the fundamental rights of women in response to the pandemic and recovery efforts.
Others on the panel included US Department of Commerce, Commercial Law Development Programme senior counsel Arezo Yazd, Economic Development Board (EDB) startups manager Pakiza Abdulrahman, Author of Covid-19 Impact:
Bahrain Initiatives Doris Martin, Women International Network founder and CEO Kristin Engvig, Ernst and Young (EY) Markets and Business Development (government and public sector) managing director Tasha Brown and Al Kindi Specialist Hospital and Medical Centre Dental Department and Restorative Dentists department head Dr Hanan Madan.
The session was moderated by Bahrain Research Consortium founder committee member Dr Hana Kanoo.
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