Learn lessons from women in Japan. Mrs Mahama advises African women
The First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, has challenged African women in Japan to learn lessons from that country by preserving the positive aspects of their heritage and culture while doing away with harmful and degrading practices.
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“In Africa, there is a lot we can be proud of, and we must preserve. But there is also a lot that we must discard such as child marriage,” she said.
Mrs Mahama made the call at a luncheon organised in her honour by the wives of African Heads of Mission, female ambassadors and leaders of Japanese women groups in Tokyo yesterday.
The First Lady is in Japan with her husband, President John Dramani Mahama, on an official visit.
OAFLA initiatives
Touching on activities of the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA), of which she is the president, the First Lady said the organisation had embarked on a number of initiatives to better the lives of women and children.
“Of course, you are aware that OAFLA was formed by African First Ladies at the height of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. It was meant as a vehicle for First Ladies of Africa to mobilise time, effort, education and resources to stop the AIDS disease from ravaging their people.
“Since then, the programmes being undertaken by OAFLA have broadened considerably beyond just eliminating HIV and AIDS to include reducing maternal and child mortality, controlling and preventing breast and cervical cancers,” she said.
The First Lady expressed concern that new HIV infections among adolescents were not declining quickly enough, as compared to other segments of the population, pointing out that the aim of the organisation was to work at reducing new HIV infections to zero.
“This concern prompted us earlier this year to hold a meeting of OAFLA members and stakeholders in Accra. Under the banner of the 7th Africa Conference on Sexual and Health Rights, we launched a new campaign to tackle this challenge,” she said.
Child marriage
Mrs Mahama stated that since she assumed the presidency of OAFLA, the organisation had included the campaign to end child marriages on its agenda, adding that “as First Ladies of Africa, we are prepared to show leadership in this area and I am sure we can count on your support.”
Mrs Mahama spoke against child marriages, saying that “as mothers it is our duty, more than anyone else, to prevent our young girls from being married off to men they do not know, do not love, and who are far older than them”.
“We have fought a long battle to achieve the success in sending the girl child to school. We cannot sit and see that achievement whittle away,” she stressed.
Lordina Foundation
She also spoke about the activities of the Lordina Foundation, which she formed, pointing out that among others, “Over the last couple of years, we have and will continue to provide material and financial support to orphanages in the country. We are also facilitating the construction of modern accommodation for toddlers in two of the orphanages.”
Mrs Mahama also said the foundation was facilitating the construction of a vocational school at the Gambaga Witches Camp to teach the women and their children useful skills in order for them to be self-sustaining.
