SALA PARTY FOR KAYAYEE

Story: Zainabu Issah

THE Pamela Bridgewater Project in collaboration with the Sulemana Memorial Hospital and other stakeholders have organised a ‘Sala’ party for female porters (kayayei) in Accra.The kayayei also underwent a health screening exercise and health education on how to avoid teenage pregnancy and to stay protected from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV.

Mr.Yahaya Alhassan, President of the Pamela Bridgewater Project, said  because of inadequate shelter, the Kayayei are exposed to early child birth.

“ We therefore organised the party as a way of creating a platform to educate them on the dangers of these  diseases and also encourage them to practice family planning and abstinence since it is the only way they could protect themselves from these diseases,” he said.

The National Co-ordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), ACP Ms Elizabeth Dassah, said educating the kayayei would help in reducing the rate of early childbirth and their risk to HIV infection.

She said most people were more interested in the services that kayayee rendered other than their health.
“It is therefore a good initiative to have them gather  and educated on the need to abstain from sex and practice family planning,” she said.

She was not happy that less attention was given to the kayayei and called on the government to get involved in helping them to develop their talents.

The Director of the Social Response Network (SRN), Mr Lord Hamah, commended the organisation for trying to address the plight  of kayayei in the country.

He also requested for the government to try and address the economic issues of the north and also bridge the gap between the north and the south.

Mr Ben Brako, a popular musician in Ghana who was present at the occasion said the issues of  head potters in Ghana was one that was not taken seriously in the country.

He added that it was important for the government to set up funds to support the kayayee in the country and called on other organisations to support the Pamela Brigdewater project to achieve its ultimate goal of building a shelter for the kayayee in Accra.

The Journalist of the year, Mr Samuel Agyemang who was also present for the  occasion said enough attention should be given to support the kayayee in the country.

He added that shelter which was one of the major key problems of the kayayee was one that the government must clearly look into.

He said whilst the government was doing well in clearing the city of filth, it should also consider the housing of the girls and if that was achieved, then the city would be considered “clean”.

The head of the Sulemana Medical Team, Madam Elizabeth Apedo said most of them did not know what family planning was.

“Their birth intervals are very small which causes malnutrition in their children. It also affects them since their bodies do not get to recover fully from birth,” she said.

Madam Apedo advised them to desist from early child birth and concentrate more on their health and frequently visit the hospitals for medical attention.


 THE KAYAYEI GOING THROUGH MEDICAL SCREENING



The Zonal Operation Manager of Vicdoris Pharmaceuticals, Mr Ernest De-Graft Egyire says most of the kayayee are venerable to malaria since they sleep outside without mosquito net.

“We therefore are here to distribute malaria drugs to those who would be diagnosed of malaria and also distribute condoms for their protection and safety,” he said.

The party was also characterised with the distribution of food and drinks and the award of partners who have supported the organisation through their immerse contributions of which the Journalist of the year was again awarded for his story on shelter in the city.


FOOD WAS ALSO DISTRIBUTED TO THE KAYAYEI.

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR, SAMUEL AGYEMAN WAS HOUNOURED WITH A PORTRAIT  BY PAMELA BRIDGEWATER PROJECT OF THE KAYAYEI FOR HIS REVEALING STORY ON SHELTER IN THE CITY WHICH WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM FACING THE KAYAYEI IN ACCRA.