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General News on Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Source: ghananewsagency.org
2019-02-13
They all promised their support for the work of OAFLAD
Rebecca Akufo-Addo, First Lady, urged her African counterparts to be more accountable, more transparent and more engaged in their relations with development partners, saying that these attributes would "bring in" far more donors for their various programs in Africa.
She said these attributes were what her foundation, the Rebecca Foundation, had pursued after discovering in her work that "our ability to attract new donors depended on that," adding that "it's one thing we will continue to do ".
The First Lady said this at the 22nd Ordinary General Assembly of the current Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), formerly the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV / AIDS (OAFLA).
She addressed the theme "Collaborating to transform Africa: meeting the needs of vulnerable populations".
The name OAFLA was replaced by OAFLAD as of Monday, February 11, 2019 when the members of the organization presented their strategic vision for the next five years at the next general badembly.
The name change was agreed at the 21st regular session of the organization last year, with a new vision of giving the first ladies a wider range of work areas, apart from HIV and AIDS. AIDS.
Ms. Akufo-Addo, in her speech, said that funding was a big challenge in their area of activity and that the scarcity of it could derail any strategic vision.
"The misconception is that First Ladies have access to unlimited funding. No, we do not do it. It was difficult to raise funds, "she said.
She added that in her view, Ghana and other African countries faced a fundamental development problem and wondered how Africa could develop at a pace commensurate with that of global development. .
"How to create a more equitable society and inclusive development for vulnerable people, especially women and children," she asked.
Akufo-Addo said she was pleased, however, to say that Ghana has taken bold steps towards more inclusive development, adding that "these positive developments have informed my vision as First Lady."
She stated that her strategy was to advocate for the well-being of women and children in a sustainable way, inspired by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 , 10 and 11.
She added that despite the successes she had gained as a first lady through her foundation and the Infata Malaria Prevention Program, "I am the first to admit that we have problems. The first is sustainability. Often the work of the first ladies ends when their husbands leave office.
However, she said, "Because I believe so much in what I do, I want my causes to survive me.
"We are and will continue to work in partnership with development partners and state institutions to integrate our initiatives and ensure their sustainability," said Akofo-Addo.
Earlier in a welcome address, Mrs. Zinash Tayachew, First Lady of Ethiopia, reminded her counterparts of the tremendous work they needed to do for vulnerable people in society and asked them to demonstrate the truth. 39, maternal love in the performance of their duties.
Ms. Tayachew said the needs of their people were so insurmountable and what they were doing could seem like "a drop of water in the ocean," but added that they were continuing to change people's lives.
Mrs. Adjoavi Sika Kobore, President of OAFLAD, congratulated her colleagues of the First Lady for their commitment to improving the lives of their citizens, especially women, children and vulnerable people.
Mr. Michel Sidibi, outgoing Director of the United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), commended the organization for its transformative role in the fight against HIV and AIDS on the continent.
Ms. Amira Elfadil Mohamed, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union, said that the health needs of the people remained a priority for the AU and that the role and contribution of the first ladies was inevitable. for the development of the health of their populations.
In separate remarks, the first ladies pledged to align their work with the organization's new strategic vision to improve the lives of their employees.
Abbott Laboratories, Gilead Sciences, Inc., the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
They all promised to support the work of OAFLAD
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