This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
On June 18, 2020, the Eastern Africa National Networks of Aids and Health Service Organisation (Eannaso) based in Arusha issued a statement expressing concerns over the impact of Covid-19 measures on East Africans.
Seven organisations under Eannaso alleged that stringent measures such as isolation, quarantine, and lockdowns are preventing East Africans from accessing health, justice, social protection, and income.
“Health emergencies often violate key rights to health, privacy and confidentiality, non-discrimination, freedom of assembly and collect timely information,” Eannaso said in a statement.
The NGOs are calling on the East African Community partner states to adhere to human-rights laws when responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They also want the governments to work with them to revamp community-based initiatives, which they believe will be critical in the phase of reconstruction.
According to the NGOs, the fight against the pandemic is limiting East Africans’ access to health and other essential services, triggering gender-based violence as well as violence against other vulnerable communities and truck drivers at borders.
People living with HIV are afraid to go to health facilities due to the soaring numbers of Covid-19 patients, fearing they may catch the virus.
