Literacy nonprofit Child Aid holds virtual staff get-togethers led by Dr. Esther Han, a Johns Hopkins-trained physician. They review latest COVID-19 information and dispel myths surrounding vaccination and treatment.
- Child Aid equips staff in Guatemala to inform remote communities about the latest COVID-19 information and vaccination protocols.
- Informational meetings prove pivotal to getting Child Aid staff in Guatemala to accept the vaccines and advocate for them.
Portland, Oregon, May 17, 2021 — Literacy nonprofit Child Aid launches ongoing COVID-19 informational and best-practices virtual meetings – “COVID-19 Myth Busting Happy Hours” for our staff and led by respected physicians.Child Aid staff hold informal meetings to answer anonymous questions and dispel dangerous myths about COVID-19 and vaccination protocols. They motivate their peers and community members to receive vaccinations and support public health initiatives. Additionally, Child Aid staff include medically factual information about COVID-19 in weekly educational radio broadcasts that permeate rural Guatemala.
“Part of Child Aid’s value in Guatemala is how integrated our organization is in remote communities where we work. By dispelling COVID-19 myths for our staff and equipping them with the most accurate and vetted information, we are acting as conduits of reliable medical information to some of the most at-risk communities in the world,” says Child Aid CEO Nancy Press.
A sampling of questions gathered anonymously from staff include:
- Can vaccinations cause infertility in men or women?
- Should parents vaccinate their children?
- Do doctors advise pregnant women to receive vaccinations?
- Are the current vaccines effective against the emerging COVID-19 variants?
- How long do health experts say vaccines protect a person after vaccination?
“After Dr. Esther Han answered questions about the vaccine, many of our staff members who had resisted are now interested. They are recommending it to others in the communities where they live and work,” said Country Director Graciela Landa Pichiya.
THE PROBLEM:
Though Guatemala received its first vaccine shipment nearly three months ago, only 0.2 percent of its nearly 18 million people have been vaccinated, according to devex.com. Misinformation and mistrust among the Guatemalan people contribute to the overall sluggish vaccination rate, making the reasons for this low rate complicated. Child Aid is a trusted organization in hundreds of remote Guatemalan communities where our literacy organization has worked for more than a decade. Our informed staff are a reliable and trusted source of information for many Guatemalan communities.
For more information about Child Aid’s “COVID-19 Myth Busting Happy Hours” or to arrange interviews with Child Aid CEO Nancy Press, Child Aid Country Director Graciela Landa Pichiya or Dr. Esther Han, please contact Child Aid Director of Public Relations
Helyn Trickey Bradley @ 404-384-4143 or helyn.bradley@child-aid.org
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ABOUT CHILD AID: We are a Portland-based literacy nonprofit working to bring books and comprehensive teacher training to elementary-age children in some of the poorest communities in Guatemala. To date, our organization works in 211 schools, reaching nearly 81,000 children with transformative education and literacy skills.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Helyn Trickey Bradley // Child Aid Public Relations Manager // C – 404-384-4143 // helyn.bradely@child-aid.org