By Tarhyang Enowbikah Tabe
Saturday May 2, 2020 was the date set for some members of the Beijing 25 CARegion Platform to pay a visit to Dockyard, a reverine community in Limbe.
The mission was to reduce Sexual Abuse and other Implications of COVID- 19 on the Internally Displaced Adolescent Girls in the area.
The team, headed by Beatrice Ndefon had a series of planned activities which were to go a long way to attain their objectives despite the difficult terrain.
Its population is predominantly made up of fisher men whose wives and children also support in the lone trade in the locality.
Despite the natural challenge that the sea provides, the team was bent on taking its sensitisation message to this community even if it means braving the waves of the Atlantic for a few minutes.
The first move was a stopover at the Palace of the Paramount Chief of Limbe, HRH Chief John Elufa Manga Williams. The team was welcomed in the palace as they took time to explain to the Chief, the subject of their mission.
After listening to the team leader and also a word from the Coordinator of the Platform, the chief was amazed with the work the Platform through its members is doing.
At this point, he gave them the Royal blessings and handed them over to the quarter head of Dockyard to take them to the locality for business proper to begin.
While respecting prescribed social distancing and standards by WHO and CDC, they had to mobilise the women and young girls to come out and listen to their story.
It was a difficult task to mobilise the ladies, though their team revealed they had sent words a few days ago through the quarter head.
Nonetheless as they started singing feminists songs, they started gathering and became interested in the activities taking place.
Activities that took place at the sensitisation venue included; the use and Management of reusable pads which was done by Emily Miki through demonstrations, explanations and questions and answer sessions, Generation Equity by Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo-Wondieh, who also spoke on the Beijing Conference as well as its 25th Anniversary.
A talk on Gender based violence, by Baiye Frida and Pauline Kemgne was also part of the actions as they used demonstrative posters to explain the concept of Gender Based Violence to the community.
They concentrated their messages on the need for love and peace in the family during this period.
There was also a poem by Veronica Njenu, which pulled the attention of the women even more. Reciting with actions, Vero thrilled the audience with an amazing voice on the prevention of Covid-19.
The last intervention was coordinated by Ma Bea which was dedicated to practical demonstration on preventive methods against the Covid -19 pandemic.
She led the installation of one Hand Washing Point at the entrance to the community and explained by actions how to wash hands properly.
Using illustrative posters, the team also explained how to wear a face mask as a means of preventing the virus.
Speaking to The SUN, Ndefon Beatrice expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the project.
She thanked the Members of the Beijing 25CARegion platform for the funding as well as members of her team for the collaborative spirit.
She said “after the session, though initially planned to distribute 50 face masks, we ended up sharing 90 with the promise of sending more to the community whenever the means is available. At the end of the day we were able to have over 90 Women and Girls and a few men who stayed around listening and commenting on what we were saying.”