Ms. Salma Shanni sharing toiletries to the participants
Hope Abound for Women and Children (HAWC), a feminist non-governmental organisation (NGO), last weekend organised a COVID-19 vaccine education and awareness sensitisation for Kayayei girls in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The sensitisation, which brought together over 200 Kayayei girls, educated them on the COVID-19 vaccine, its importance, expected side effects and myths.
The event was part of the organisation’s efforts to educate girls in the informal sector to mitigate the numerous effects of COVID-19 on women in the sector.
Ms. Salma Shanni, Founder and Executive Director of HAWC said research had showed that the global pandemic had affected and continues to affect women in  diverse ways, and that there had been a rise in domestic violence cases, more unpaid labour, loss of jobs amongst others.
She said the relevance of women in the frontline and essential services against the fight of COVID-19 had been evident in the world.
The Executive Director said Ghana was fortunate to be the first African country to receive the COVID-19 vaccines and had President Akufo-Addo with other prominent leaders including the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu taking their shots on camera to encourage all citizens.
She said despite the efforts of the leaders, there were still many conspiracy theories and myths on the vaccine and therefore there was the need to demystify these myths and conspiracy theories.
Madam Wendy Boatemaa Amanfo, a Midwife at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, took the participants through several topics of reproductive health and the COVID-19 safety measures and protocols, and also emphasised the need for the girls to keep observing the protocols after taking the vaccine.
The event was hosted and supported by Madam Manna Ampomah, the Co-Founder of HAWC.
The Kayayei girls asked questions on the vaccine, shared their fears and expressed their concerns, which were all addressed by health professionals.
Hope Abound for Women and Children is a feminist organisation committed to the fight for gender equality, income equality, human rights, shared domestic labour, female leadership, end to domestic violence and the dismantling of patriarchal narratives.