The Prestea Huni Valley Municipal Assembly organized a training workshop on 23rd June 2022 to strengthen risk communication and misinformation management for covid 19 vaccines’ demand generation in ghana. The Regional and District communication and social mobilization sub-committee were oriented in this regard.
Welcoming the Participants, Mr. Joseph Kwame Sampson (Municipal Health Director) urged all to get vaccinated to protect them against Covid 19. “When we vaccinate and go into public we will be covid free”, he said. He added that the Western Regional covid 19 cases are raising as 46 infected cases have been recorded so far. He said that in prestea Huni Valley Municipal we are at an increased risk because our neighboring assembly has reported covid 19 cases so there is a need to educate the people on the vaccination.
Madam Akua Aggrey Titus Glover (Senior Program Officer USAID/Breakthrough Action) took the participants through the overview of the program, she announced that the program is organized in 10 Regions of Ghana, and in the Western Region it is organized in 5 Assemblies.
Mr. Benjamin Amihere (Health Promotion Officer) asserted that it is the duty of the risk communication team to e aware of any disease and healthy treats and supports the media and public communication and engagement and activities and capacity-building programs for all stakeholders.
Joel Ablekoye (Principal Health Promotion officer / Health Promotion headquarters). He took the participants through rumors about Covid 19 that do not have any backing source. He explained that rumors fill gaps based on incomplete information. People share information based on what they believe to be true, he added. Because of some agenda setters, the vaccines may be left to expire. They, therefore, urged all to utilize listening, verifying, and engaging steps in checking the authenticity of rumors.