Women's Rights Groups Blames Latin American Governments for Spread of Zika Virus

Many women's rights and gender equality groups from across the world are heavily criticizing government advice to delay pregnancies as a viable solution to the Zika virus problem. They argue that the Latin American government fails to recognize the harsh reality of unplanned pregnancies.

In a report with The Guardian, the dreaded Zika virus has shown its devastating effects in countries like Brazil and Colombia. Health officials from across five countries have issued these health recommendations. In Brazil alone, it was reported that the South American country had registered 4,000 cases of babies born with microcephaly, a condition in which infants are born with an abnormally small head and an underdeveloped brain. So far, there is no Zika vaccine. 

Governments from across the globe are expediting efforts to contain the virus. Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff has declared a war on Zika by deploying 220,000 troops to scour and eradicate possible breeding grounds of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. However, women's advocates groups believe that the efforts made by both the government and health officials are not enough.

Alejandro Gaviria, health minister of Colombia, advised women in the country to delay pregnancy for six to eight months. The South American nation is the second hardest nation hit by the mosquito-borne disease, with 890 pregnant women affected by the virus.

Gaviria said that it is a "good way to communicate the risk." He added that people will be aware of the serious consequences involved.

Many women's rights advocates, particularly reproductive rights advocates argue that the different governments have failed to address the issue altogether since they have skirted over the fact that pregnancies can be unplanned, especially among the poor.

Paula Avila-Guillen, of the US-based Center for Reproductive Rights, said that many men and women in the rural areas of the region have little to no access to contraceptives. She added that many pregnancies are also the result of sexual abuse and even rape, especially among young girls.

Reuters reported that activists have called the health advice "irresponsible" and "naive." Countries like El Salvador advised women to delay pregnancy by as much as two years. They also argue that women across these regions have little say on the matter on getting pregnant, which is another blind spot that needs to be addressed.

Monica Roa, vice president of strategy for Women's Link Worldwide, said that in countries like Colombia, where sexual violence is prevalent, the health advice is moot.

She also lamented that the outbreak of the Zika virus has also exposed many weak areas in the government, such as the lack of sexual education.

"Health ministries should inform rather than recommend," Roa declared.

The women's rights groups also blamed health officials for failing to address the role of men, arguing that the burden once again falls on women to protect themselves from the dreaded effects of the Zika virus.