{"id":998946,"date":"2022-02-21T15:08:10","date_gmt":"2022-02-21T15:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/02\/21\/unicef-launches-first-ever-u-report-challenge-to-boost-covid-19-vaccine-uptake-in-africa\/"},"modified":"2022-02-21T15:08:10","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T15:08:10","slug":"unicef-launches-first-ever-u-report-challenge-to-boost-covid-19-vaccine-uptake-in-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/02\/21\/unicef-launches-first-ever-u-report-challenge-to-boost-covid-19-vaccine-uptake-in-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"UNICEF launches first-ever \u2018U-Report Challenge\u2019 to boost Covid-19 vaccine uptake in Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A week after COVAX delivered its billionth dose in Rwanda, UNICEF has launched the first-ever U-Report Challenge,<\/em> calling on all 13.3 million U-Reporters in Africa to help get vaccines to the unvaccinated.<\/p>\n

Through improving access and confidence in COVID-19 vaccines, the #GiveitAShot challenge aims to activate young people in motivating those eligible in their community to get vaccinated.<\/p>\n

COVID-19 information and advocacy messages have been packaged and will be disseminated via SMS, Facebook Messenger and other communication channels.<\/p>\n

With an initial focus on six countries on the continent (C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe), the U-Report #GiveitaShot challenge will be rolled-out for eight weeks.<\/p>\n

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Weekly messages will be sent on U-Report to encourage young people to learn about COVID-19 vaccines. They will be engaged in community actions \u2013 both online and offline.<\/p>\n

Nigeria and South Africa celebrities, also U-Report supporters, Kate Henshaw and Maps Maponyane are teaming up with UNICEF on this initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfrica has been battling COVID-19 for two years now,\u201d Kate Henshaw said.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cAt a time of Omicron, it is more important than ever to get vaccines to the unvaccinated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we want to combat misinformation, it is key to mobilize the continent\u2019s U-Reporters and provide much-needed information on Covid-19 vaccines to save people\u2019s lives\u201d, Maps Maponyane added.<\/p>\n

It is estimated that about 10 percent of the adult population on the African continent is vaccinated.<\/p>\n

U-Report is a messaging tool that empowers young people around the world to engage with and speak out on issues that matter to them.<\/p>\n

Today, U-Report is active in 88 countries worldwide, with 19.3 million U-Reporters all over the world, and works with SMS, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Telegram, and WhatsApp.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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