NGOs empower 'Kayayei' to International Day of the Girl Child

A group of “Kayayei” (head porters) have been educated on reproductive health, personal hygiene, menstrual cycle, family planning and how to exercise their fundamental human rights, especially, in case of rape to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child on Friday.

Your Health Matters Ghana, Health and Lifestyle Initiative and Baba Sariki Foundation are Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) into health education, social outreach jointly marked the Day with the girls at the Madina Market, in Accra.

Convener for the Health and Lifestyle Initiative, Ijeoma Emeagha, said October 11 serves as a reminder for more efforts on the welfare of the girl-child because celebrating them must go beyond the day.

“One question that keeps iterating is: after today, what next? How do we ensure that their lives get better? What does the future hold for them? How will society assist in equipping these young girls for a resilient future?” she queried.

She, therefore, appealed to government, individuals and organisations to help empower them for life by either helping them go to school or give them skill training.

Madam Ijeoma said since their work was a means of livelihood, they can work and still acquire skills and others.

She called on the regulatory body in charge to get the young “Kayayei,” in school instead of being abused sexually and most of whom from 12 t0 17 being pregnant without husbands.

President and Founder of Your Health Matters Ghana, Gladys Dadzie Tometi, said the initiative was to ensure that the head porters took proper care of themselves.

Mrs Tometi said the NGOs would continue to advocate the well-being of the head porters to give them a better future.

A number of sanitary towels were distributed to the ‘Kayayei’, most of whom were adolescents and teenagers.

The United Nations’ General Assembly in 2012 launched the Day to resolve issues including; sexual health, education, access to services in terms of poverty equality, child marriage concerning the girl child.

It is to be commemorated every October 11 to promote girl’s empowerment towards their human rights and tackling the challenges they faced.