INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: SAMI KICKS AGAINST GENDER BIAS WITH ONE-DAY ‘I BREAK FREE’ TRAINING FOR WOMEN
By Trek Africa Newspaper
In a bid to empower women in the grassroots against gender bias, Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI), a non governmental organization which focuses on sickle cell disorder has announced its plans to educate and empower females living with sickle cell disease and female caregivers of children with the disorder to be self-sufficient. This is in celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day with the campaign theme ‘Break the Bias’.
The event billed to hold on Wednesday 9th of March in Surulere, Lagos themed ‘I Break Free’ will target 20 participants. It is in line with the organization’s passion to help sickle cell warriors live a healthy, positive and productive lives. The education program is a key intervention targeted at sickle cell warriors, as they are called, and/or their mothers to address the many challenges these women go through varying from discrimination, parents’ desertion amongst others.
The Executive Director of Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI), Toyin Adesola reiterated the organization’s commitment to supporting women in the different challenges they go through as sickle cell warriors or mothers of a warrior. ‘There is no doubt that women are still discriminated against especially in developing countries like Nigeria. If a child is born with a health challenge it is common for the blame to be associated with the mother. Some of these are based on stereotypes, superstitious beliefs and cultural biases that need to be eliminated’, she revealed to Trek Africa Newspaper.
Speaking further on the essence of the program, the Programme Manager, Tobi Olaitan said: ‘This one-day training will seek to address these challenges by first taking these participants through mental health, identity and lifestyle reframing sessions. This will be followed by a breakout session.’
‘With this, SAMI continues to leverage its influential voice to drive further awareness and management support for sickle cell disorder, tackle bias, stigmatization and motivate change’, Mr. Olaitan concluded.
