MISS RWANDA 2022 contestants have joined the campaign to mobilise and encourage Rwandans to get the Covid-19 booster for the country to be able to get back to normal as soon as possible.

Through the initiative, contestants on Wednesday, February 23, gathered at Camp Kigali Vaccination site to get a Covid-19 booster as part of using the exercise to show their commitment to safety and health of all.

The activity was organised by Rwanda Inspiration Backup, the company behind the beauty pageant, to show its contribution in using the Miss Rwanda platform to sensitize the public to get vaccinated with the covid-19 booster to increase their chances of avoiding risks of getting infected with the pandemic.

A total of 38 contestants out of 70 who are still in Miss Rwanda 2022 were vaccinated at Camp Kigali site while some 32 remaining either got the booster already or have been vaccinated from other sites, especially those who are staying out of Kigali. A few of them are pending to get the booster because they got the second dose a few days ago.

Meghan Nimwiza, the Communications Director of the beauty pageant’s organising company, believes Miss Rwanda gives them a good platform to raise awareness among the masses about getting vaccinated because now that they are attracting the attention from millions of people from Rwanda and beyond who are following the beauty contest.

Nimwiza said getting contestants vaccinated with covid-19 boosters will help in mobilizing people who have not got the booster to do so.

"The exercise was not only intended to vaccinate the contestants but also an occasion to raise awareness to encourage Rwandans who have not received the booster to get it,” Nimwiza said.

"A big number of people haven’t received the booster dose and, as Miss Rwanda, we realised that it’s a big platform to first get the contestants vaccinated and also help us spread the message that the booster is for not only them but for all Rwandans. It’s free of charge,” she added.

Patricia Shema Nzamukosha, one of the contestants said getting the booster is important not only for her but for her relatives and Rwanda in general for the benefits of health safety.

"I got the booster and am now fine, I don’t feel any pain due to the booster and I hope I will be able to walk or use my hand as usual in the next hours. I think people should get the booster because it reduces the risks caused by the pandemic,” said Nzamukosha.

"The pandemic cost people lives before the vaccination was available. I think people should take the chance to get vaccinated to avoid such consequences,” she added.

The exercise takes place three days before the pre-selection which will see top 20 contestants book a ticket to the boot camp in an event slated Saturday, 26, at Gikondo Expo Grounds.