Lordina Foundation supports underprivileged people
One of the primary objectives of the Lordina Foundation since it was launched in 2009 has been to bridge the gap between the privileged and the less privileged, especially in the areas of health, education and care for the needy.
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In fulfilment of this commitment, the foundation, formerly known as the Alternative Source of Income Programme, pursued its objective to support underprivileged children and women in some parts of Ghana, especially in the areas of health and education.
The foundation is the brain-child of the First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama.
Supporting the vulnerable
An annual report from the foundation said in pursuit of her philanthropic activities, Mrs Mahama, through the foundation, had adopted some orphanages and the Gambaga 'Witches' Camp.
The orphanages include the Frankmay New Life Foundation Children's Home and the Bethesda Children's Home, both in the Brong Ahafo Region; the Osu Children’s Home and the Christ Foster Home, both in the Greater Accra Region, and the Tamale Children’s Home and the Anfaani Children’s Home, both in the Northern Region.
The foundation visited the orphanages and donated educational materials to the children and provided funding for their operations.
It also donated food items to the Gambaga 'Witches' Camp.
According to the report, the foundation facilitated a project to provide accommodation and educational facilities for inmates of the camp and also organised regular free medical screening for them as well as the residents of the community at large.
Health initiatives
As part of its outreach programme to health facilities, the foundation, last year, presented medical supplies and equipment to more than 20 public health institutions in the Northern, Brong Ahafo, Western, Central, Greater Accra and Volta regions to support healthcare delivery.
Boxes of medical supplies and equipment, including ambulances, beds, surgical equipment, gloves, facial masks, syringes, and coats had been distributed to selected public health facilities to help address the challenge of inadequate medical supplies confronting those facilities.
The Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital in Accra, for instance, had its share when it received an ambulance from the First Lady.
The report said with support from its sponsors, the foundation intensified its campaign on HIV and AIDS, cervical and breast cancers awareness across the country.
Based on a campaign which began in 2013, over 1,600 sites are currently providing prevention of mother-to-child transmission services, where pregnant women are offered HIV counselling and testing.
International platforms
According to the report, in line with the government’s policy of providing quality education for children in the country, the Lordina Foundation supported a number of brilliant, needy students by granting them scholarships to further their education in Ghana and overseas.
With the recognition offered her abroad, the First Lady addressed a parliamentary reception in the House of Lords in London, the United Kingdom, where she highlighted the burden of cervical cancer in developing countries.
At the same event, she interacted with the Liberal Democrat and government spokesperson, Lindsay Patricia Northover, on international development and the protection of women and girls against cervical cancer in Africa.
Commendations
The report said in recognition of her philanthropic work, contribution to women empowerment and support for children in deprived communities in Ghana, the First Lady was honoured in Namibia for championing women’s reproductive health, while the State of New Jersey and the City of Newark, USA, also honoured her for her support for children.
She was also decorated with a Global Inspiration Leadership Award and inducted into the Global Women Leaders Hall of Fame at the Second Africa-Middle East-Asia Women’s Summit in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Mrs Mahama was installed the Sompahemaa of Nkoranza by the Nkoranza Traditional Council last year for her contribution and worth while services to the holistic development of the area.