Sophie Wessex is set to meet the survivors of gender-based violence in a state visit to South Sudan. But, upon her arrival, just like anybody else who will come to other countries, the Countess of Wessex got screened for the coronavirus.
Prince Edward's wife was tested for the infection when she arrived in South Sudan. She is in the said country to do an official visit on behalf of her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.
Just like everybody else, people who arrive in South Sudan, and other foreign nations, are required to have their temperature checked to see if they have any symptoms of the coronavirus. As cases of the infectious disease grow all over the world, it has been every country's new protocol to check the temperature of every visitor - and Sophie Wessex is not exempted from that.
Queen Elizabeth's Ambassador to South Sudan, Chris Trott, confirmed Sophie Wessex's arrival in the country. "Very pleased to welcome HRH The Countess of Wessex to South Sudan today to support women's participation and efforts to prevent and address gender-based violence," he said in a tweet. "Like everyone else her first meeting was with a thermometer!"
According to the Belfast Telegraph, Sophie Wessex's trip to South Sudan is the first royal visit made in the country. She aims to promote women's and girls' rights there "through education, inclusivity at a leadership level," and discussing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). After the establishment of the transitional government in February, the mother-of-two is set to meet the SGBV survivors to know the impact of the recent conflict on them and learn the challenges that the ousted women and girls experience.
Queen Elizabeth's alleged favorite daughter-in-law will also join the talks with men who are part of a program that brings greater gender equality into their homes and communities. She will also go to the country's capital, Juba, to meet the female political leaders and peacebuilders to talk about the importance of letting more women join the implementation of the nation's peace process, broader politics, and decision-making.
Also, Sophie Wessex is set to visit a local school to see the effect of the humanitarian crisis on the young people in the country. She, too, will check if the U.K. support for girls' education and move to make them continue their study is followed. Her visit to South Sudan comes amidst the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website's warning about visiting the country due to the high level of intercommunal violence that is currently happening there. It also comes upon the request of the FCO for the International Women's Week.
