Indigenous Women and Health

 Indigenous Women and Health

Deniza Ismael

The COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines highlighted the structural and historical inequalities experienced by the indigenous peoples and made even worse for indigenous women and girls who are most at risk due to the particular conditions in areas in which they live. Results of this survey have shown that the pandemic has increased the multiple inequalities that were already affecting the indigenous women and girls in terms of limited access to health services, continuous discrimination against them through disregard of their traditional health knowledge and practices, and lack of fact-based information about COVID-19 and vaccination.

The workload of the indigenous women increased during lockdown due to family care and other tasks as they are considered the primary responsible in caring and maintaining the health of the family. Such pressure, as well as social disruptions that have left indigenous women to struggle with feelings of uncertainty, stress and worries about economic well-being, including job loss, have effects on their mental health.

'Indigenous Women and Food Security' is part of the Sectoral Monitoring on the Situation of Indigenous Women and Girls during the COVID-19 Pandemic by LILAK (Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights) and the Commission on Human Rights Gender Equality and Women’s Rights Center, published on April 20, 2022.