The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has climaxed its Kayayei Assistance Project (KASPRO) with an expo in Accra. The six months project used three strategies namely reproduction health education, skills building and nourishment and dignity to improve the plight of the Kayayei.
A cohort of 500 Kayayei were provided with gender-based violence and reproductive health information. Under the skills building, Kayayei under KASPRO were provided vocational training in business and entrepreneurial skills while under the nourishment and dignity, Kayayei were given food, essential items to maintain hygiene as well as free NHIS registration for their health & wellbeing.
The 6 months project which began in June after Ghana had record its first cases of COVID 19 gave assistance and training to 500 Kayayei in the areas of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, vocational training in business and entrepreneurial skills as well as nourishment and dignity training.
The UNFPA country representative, Niyi Ojuolape stated that these Kayayei are faced with lots of challenges in search of greener pastures which worsen during COVID-19.
“COVID-19 has aggravated their unfortunate realities and now more than ever they need sustained help”.
He added that the project, KASPRO was designed to demonstrate workable approaches in response to the needs of the vulnerable, especially during pandemics such as COVID-19.
Mr Ojuolape said the project yielded profit as the Kayayei have been able to come out with different products from the various trainings given.
The project partnered with Prudential Life Insurance and National Health Insurance Scheme who supported to alleviate the plight of the Kayayei.
The representative of Prudential Life Insurance Ghana stated that their support to UNFPA was part of their cooperate social responsibility to help the under privileged during the pandemic.
Eight members were awarded for their hardwork, commitment and support throughout the project.
There was an exhibition to display the various products that the Kayayei’s had produced over the last few months.
Josephine Aku Selorm Gator
National Service Personnel, AMA
