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During the pandemic, violence cases against women increased significantly in Honduras. The country has the highest femicide rate in the Latin American region.

“I’ve lost my job. I gave birth. It’s been difficult as my child has disabilities too.” These are the words of a despondent mother of two, Rebecca Bolona, as the 38-year-old speaks to us in a small room upstairs of the Vitolina Centre, in a busy area in Wierdapark, South Africa.  

Roya sets the white fabric under the needle and presses the pedal of her sewing machine, adding finishing touches on the face mask she is making. Around her, rows and rows of other refugees are also churning out masks – much sought-after protection made necessary by the unrelenting COVID-19 pandemic.

The UN country teams continue their efforts to provide local and national authorities worldwide support in the fight against COVID-19. Today, we highlight some of those efforts.

Many years ago, as a little girl, Heni Dwi Windarwati was out walking with her parents when a stranger approached them on the street.  “He walked towards me, seemingly out of the blue, and kissed me on my forehead. I remembered not feeling scared because my parents did not react strongly to it,” she remembers. Her parents explained that the man had a severe mental health condition and did not mean any harm. Years later, this interest in mental health inspired her to get a doctorate in psychiatric nursing.