FIRST LADY COMMENDS HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR SUSTAINING GAINS OF MDG 5

First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama has commended Health professionals across the country for their efforts at sustaining the gains of the Millennium Development Goal 5 that is reducing maternal morbidity and mortality beyond 2015.

 Speaking at the 10th Anniversary durbar of the Nursing and Midwifery Training College at Keta in the Volta region, Mrs. Mahama noted that no woman must die during childbirth hence she is very excited by the dedication and hardworking of health professionals to save every child and mother during delivering.

“I feel so sad whenever I hear a woman has died while fulfilling our divine ordained duty of childbirth. But we must celebrate our success stories. I was very encouraged when I learnt that that no woman died during labour last year at the District hospital in Nadowli’’ she stated.

The First Lady mentioned bleeding, infection; difficult labour, anaemia and pregnancy induced hypertension, though preventable, as major causes of maternal mortality.

‘The Other factors such as delays in seeking health care, delay in reaching the health centre and delay in getting healthcare services are equally easily resolvable’’ the First Lady emphasized.

Touching on the theme for the occasion; “Quality Nursing and Midwifery Education, a Pre-requisite for Improved Healthcare Delivery”, the First Lady stated that Government’s commitment to expand existing Nursing and Midwifery training colleges even as new ones continue to be established is to create more spaces for more students to be admitted into these schools.

This she said will ultimately raise the quality of teaching and learning in colleges and when more nurses and midwives are trained, it will reduce workload on staff in health facilities, ultimately raising quality healthcare delivery to a new level as planned by the government.

‘Beyond the provision of infrastructure and retooling of our hospitals, government hopes it will raise the level of quality healthcare delivery to meet international standards thereby, not only serving Ghanaians, but also making Ghana hub for quality medical care in West Africa., which can be a significant source of foreign exchange to boost our economy’’ the First Lady explained.

Mrs. Mahama noted that in as much as government is investing in the health center, health professionals and students nurses must emulate Florence Nightingale, a nurse who in the 19^th century led a team of nurses to give care to soldiers wounded in Crimea although the condition in which they worked was terrible.

The First Lady entreated the students to imbibe a culture of discipline and patriotism.  She also encourage the people in communities to avail themselves of the services available in CHIPS compounds, clinics, polyclinics and hospitals by going for regular check-ups adding that with regular health screening, any diseases that are detected early can be cured.

Principal of the Training College, Charity Kartey said the Nursing and Midwifery Training School since its establishment in 2006 has turned out 935 Nurse Assistant Clinical who are working as enrolled nurses in various Health facilities in Ghana especially in the Volta Region. Mrs Kartey announced that the school intends to take some actions aimed at moving the school forward. These include maintaining the high pass rate in academic and Licensure Examination, complete a Hostel Project to accommodate more students and appeal for more tutors to be posted to the school.

For his part the health Minister Alex Segbefia noted that recognising that desired high nursing and midwifery care are achieved when adequate resources are invested in the training of students, government will endeavour to make resources available to improve infrastructure to provide adequate materials and personnel for the training of all health professionals. He stated that at the time the Nursing and Midwifery Training College was formed in 2006, there were 24 nursing and midwifery schools but currently under the NDC government the number has increased to 96 out of which 10 are private.

LORDINA MAHAMA HONOURED MOST CHARISMATIC AND INFLUENTIAL FIRST LADY FOR THE YEAR 2016

For her supportive role as a wife of the President and her reaction to social and health issues particularly relating to women and children, the First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Mahama has been honored with the OSAGYEFO PAN AFRICA EMINENCE AWARDS FOR 2016 with the Most Charismatic and Influential First Lady of the year award by the Confederation of Governance Assessment Institute.

The First Lady’s Foundation, the Lordina Foundation was also honored with the Best Charitable Foundation in Africa award.

 Mrs. Mahama’s recognition came as a result of her persistent interest in humanitarian, health and social issues for many years.

A citation presented to the First Lady proclaimed “Her Excellency Lordina Mahama has been undoubtedly the most charismatic and influential First Lady in Africa sub region for the past years apparent in the significant supportive role she plays as a wife of the President of a republic where expectations and demands are too overwhelming to anyone who holds that office. Her Excellency Lordina Mahama’s reactions to public issues and commentaries depicts her charismatic nature and the influence she has on the citizenry especially girl-child. Her Excellency Lordina Mahama’s advocate against child marriage, child labour, breast and cervical cancer, HIV prevention and adolescent sexual reproductive health has been phenomenal within these past years’’.

The First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama’s nationwide medical supplies to health facilities in all ten regions of the country, her support and efforts to help prevent breast and cervical cancers and HIV in Ghana, her dedication and determination to provide shelter and vocational training for the inmates and residence of the Gambaga Witches Camp, coupled with her adoption of several orphanages across Ghana and constantly providing them with food, clothing and other essentials all contributed to her recognition and award.

Recognizing the need to assist people who are engaged in vocational training to expand their businesses and improve upon their income-earning capacity as providing skills and vocational training, to create opportunities for girls and women Mrs Mahama added support to artisans to the modules of the Lordina Foundation of which she is the President.

Mrs. Lordina Mahama earlier this year launched a campaign to end child marriage at the sidelines of the 7^th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights held in Accra.

Recently the First lady joined her colleague Ivorian First Lady to sign a joint declaration to fight against human trafficking and worst forms of child labour.

These are efforts geared towards making life comfortable for the citizenry especially women and children and it’s not surprising that the Lordina Foundation was honored the Best Charitable Foundation in Africa.

A citation presented to the foundation stated, “Lordina Foundation has proven itself to be the most passionate and vibrant foundation for the most vulnerable in Africa. Its quest of having compassion on the needy and aiding them in all aspect of life earned them this accolade’’.

The Lordina Foundation, since it was launched, has focused on its primary objective, which is to cater for destitute and vulnerable children and women so as to bridge the gap between the fortunate and the unfortunate, particularly in areas of education, healthcare and vocational training. With the help of its sponsors the foundation has done significantly and enormous donations to individuals and organizations across the country.

NDP FILES ANOTHER ACTION OVER EC DISQUALIFICATION

The National Democratic Party (NDP) says it is heading back to court to enforce its rights which it believes the Electoral Commission (EC) has blatantly violated leading the eventual disqualification of the party's Presidential Candidate.

An Accra High Court has struck out an application filed by flagbearer of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings who was seeking a judicial review of the Electoral Commissions decision to disqualify her from contesting the 2016 elections and also an infringement on her human rights due to that decision. According to the court the rules governing the application for a judicial review is different from that of enforcement of human rights hence the two cannot be filed as one case.

But a statement  signed by the party's General Secretary, Mohammed Frimpong issued said the lawyers have been instructed to immediately file another action.

“We have therefore instructed our lawyers to immediately file an action to enforce our rights that we believe the Electoral Commission has blatantly violated leading to its decision not to accept our Nomination Forms and then disqualify our candidates from contesting in the 2016 Presidential Elections,” the statement said.

It further indicated the party’s preparedness to fight to get the right thing done by the EC. “We assure all Ghanaians and our teeming supporters that this matter is not over, not by a long shot. We shall continue to fight to ensure that persons in public offices respect the Constitution of the land and laws that are passed to protect ordinary citizens from arbitrariness, capriciousness and prejudice, and actions that breach the due process of law and requirements imposed by law.”

LET US BREAK DOWN BARRIERS LIMITING WOMEN'S GROWTH FIRST LADY URGES

Market women across the country have benefited from two-day training programme on women empowerment.

Businesses in the non-formal sector contribute significantly to the growth of the economy and more women working in the informal sector are women.

Notwithstanding the important role market women play in the country there are some gaps that hinders their progress.

 To address these gaps, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection organized the first ever National Market Women Conference in Accra to empower and build the capacity of market women to enable them advance their welfare.

The Conference which was part of a series of conferences being held across some selected regions in the country to empower market women for economic prosperity saw participants educated on how to use technology to access markets, such as mobile phones, effective trading, financial literacy, business development trainings, setting up of micro-credit schemes, taxation, health and sanitary concerns in markets, and sexual harassment at market places.

Speaking at the conference, the First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama noted that if Ghana is able to tackle gender inequality; it will enhance greater economic productivity, and improve opportunities for the next generation, and make policies and regulations friendlier for the small stall operator.

She stated that the Food and Agriculture Organization, of the United Nations, estimates that if women had the same access to productive resources as men, they could increase yields on their farms, by 20 to 30 percent. This she believes will help bring about prosperity, and reduced hunger in Ghana and indeed globally.

‘’Let us break down barriers limiting women’s growth, and empowerment, and increase opportunities for women, to contribute to the country’s economic growth’’ she said.

The First Lady asserted that markets play an important role, in the socio-economic life of people, as they facilitate the exchange of goods and services, create employment, and serve as a major source of revenue for many local authorities in developing countries.

She argues that the small market stalls operated from various markets are at the heart of the country’s economy, and therefore cannot be neglected by policymakers.

She said Government is engaged currently, in modernizing most of the traditional markets in the country, and improving the general environment in which traders work.

“Government is committed to establishing avenues for women, to access financial resources to invest in their businesses. There is therefore a commitment to elevate businesses of women, from micro to small and medium scale enterprise level, through an increase in their access to credit’’ she said.

Mrs. Mahama noted that with more opportunities to start and manage viable business, greater access to land, education and skills development, and more opportunities to participate in decision-making, women could pull themselves out of poverty, and improve their quality of life of their families and communities.

She stressed that government considers women’s economic empowerment, a key priority, in the development agenda, and views it as fundamental in addressing problems, like poverty and gender-based violence.

Mrs. Mahama announced that Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), intends to support over fifteen thousand (15,000) people, in the small and medium scale enterprises sector, in addition to disbursing funds to over two hundred thousand (200,000) people, engaged in food-crop farming and food marketing.

For her part, Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, said market women must be equipped with the required skills and information to help them pull themselves out of poverty to improve the quality of their lives, that of their families and communities.

Prior to that, she said the market women are being train to manage viable business, to secure greater access to land, and to maximise opportunities around them.

Nana Oye Lithur announced that about 200 market women in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Greater Accra regions have undergone practical training in financial management, leadership, use of technology to enhance work, basic healthcare and many others.

President of the Greater Accra Market Women Association, Mercy Nii Djan expressed gratitude to government for his effort to improve various markets all over the country. She also thanked the Gender Minister for her unrelenting efforts to bring the issues of concern to market women to the fore including soliciting their contributions for national policies such as the new Gender Policy.

Madam Mercy Nii Djan called for partnership between market associations and assemblies and other potential institutional partners in the public as well as the formal private sectors.

On behalf of the Market Women, Madam Mercy Djan presented a communiqué detailing their concerns to the Gender Ministry.

PRIORITIZE GIRL CHILD EDUCATION ..MRS LORDINA MAHAMA URGES

 The First lady Mrs Lordina Mahama has stressed the need for parents, leaders of various communities and other stakeholders in the education sector to prioritize girl child education. This according to her is the best way they can be empowered to become relevant in society.

Mrs Mahama made the call when she addressed the people of New Akrade during the installation of Madam Hiene as Tufuhemaa of the area with a stool name Nana Lako I.

According to the World Bank, better-educated women tend to be healthier than uneducated women, they participate more in formal labor market, and they earn higher incomes, have fewer children, marry at a later age, and enable better healthcare and education for their children.

The first lady asserted that, it is better for society when the girl child is educated and entreated all to give their wards the best education.

‘’It is about the education of your children especially the girl child. Girl child education has several benefits for both parents and society. Girl education is a strategic development priority’’ she said

Mrs. Mahama noted that women are entitled to live with dignity and with freedom from want and from fear adding that gender equality is also a precondition for advancing development and reducing poverty: 

 "Empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole families and communities, and they improve prospects for the next generation’’.

Mrs. Mahama stated that the Lordina Foundation has been working to eradicate ignorance, disease and poverty especially among vulnerable women and children through the donation of items to build their capacity and to give them sustainable means of livelihood in order that they will be liberated from the clutches of poverty. 

 The Lordina foundation has made several donations to hospitals in all ten regions of the country in an attempt to compliment government efforts in meeting the healthcare needs of Ghanaians. It has also identified women and children as belonging to the vulnerable groups of society and has supported them.

The First Lady was happy that the country is on the verge of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (now Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs) on maternal mortality.  

The First lady congratulated Nana Lako for her enstoolment and urged her to always show leadership capabilities by stepping in to hold the community together any time there is a misunderstanding.

"Women in leadership positions have always acted as mediators, consultants, advisors, source of wisdom and a uniting force.It is hoped that you would undertake the task ahead of you with enthusiasm, hard work and dedication to bring about the positive change in this community, especially to women and children’’ she added.

She called on all to work together to make this year’s elections peaceful so that all can continue on the path of development that we wish for ourselves. “We must be mindful of the fact that Ghana is the only country we have. We must all endeavor to do well to maintain it as a united country for posterity.”

She pledge her unflinching support to Nana Lako and assist her in her endeavor to make the desired impact in her new role. She called on the youth to support Abrewa Lako with whatever laudable project she comes out with.

The Akradehene Nana Okrukata V thanked the first lady for witnessing the enstoolment but appealed to her to return to the town to witness the grand Dunbar of the Breduru festival which comes off October 22. He appealed to all to be agents of peace as Ghana prepares to go to polls come December 7. He advised them to leave the polling station and return to their homes as soon as they cast their votes on Election Day.

The Eastern Regional Minister Mavis Frimpong also commended the First lady for her good works and also thanked her for her continuous support to health facilities in the eastern Region. She congratulated the newly enstooled Tufuhemaa Abrewaa Lako I.

The Newly enstooled Tufuhemaa and queen mother of New Akrade is known in private life as Madam Rose Hiene. She runs her own business enterprise in London, which has provided employment and training to many young people in the UK.

LET'S JOIN FORCES TO COMBAT CHILD LABOUR FIRST LADY URGES

First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama has reiterated the need for all stakeholders, opinion leaders and parents to join forces with government to combat human trafficking and worst forms of child labour. 

 

Speaking at a ceremony to present medical supplies and equipment to the Ghana Consolidated Diamond Hospital in Akwatia and Asamankese Government Hospital ,both in the eastern Region, Mrs.Mahama noted that in as much government has put in place measures to end human trafficking and worst forms of child labour it is time when  parents and other stakeholders place importance on the education and the welfare of children   and  support them to become responsible citizens  instead of giving them out to be engaged in forced labour. 

The First lady indicated that the aim of maximizing profit encourages people to use child labour, instead of paying the minimum wage to adult labourers.  “Children instead of being in schools find themselves engaged in farming, mining, fishing and other adult occupations to make ends meet. This is not acceptable” she said.

Being so worried about how child labour is destroying the future of children First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama last month collaborated with her Ivorian Counterpart, Madam Dominique Quattara to fight against cross border trafficking in children and the worst forms of child labour in their respective countries by signing  a joint declaration to this effect.

The First Lady asserted that “Human trafficking including rape, forced marriage among others, are the worst form of human violations and crimes against humanity”.

In order to ensure development in Akwatia and its environs, Mrs. Mahama appeal to opinion leaders and all the influential persons in the area to offer the needed support towards preserving ecosystem and clean environment, that has the additional benefit of making them healthy as well as making healthcare delivery in this community, a success.

As a mother of the nation the First lady called on the chiefs and elders to advice politicians, especially the youth, to eschew violence and promote peace in the country as December elections approach.

Osaberima Kofi Boateng ,Akwatiahene commended government for developmental projects ongoing in the community but appealed to government to construct a bridge for Akwatiaman. He was grateful for the donation of the medical supplies and equipment to the Ghana Consolidated Diamond Hospital,Akwatia.

Receiving the items, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital Dr. John Bello said the hospital even though serve a large catchment area has lots of challenges including infrastructural and inadequate staff capacity. He expressed gratitude to the first lady for the donation assuring her that the items will be put to good use. Dr.  Bello called on other stakeholders to emulate the first lady by donating to the hospital.

From the Ghana Consolidated Diamond Hospital in Akwatia the First Lady  proceeded to Asamankese Government Hospital where stated that a special focus on empowering girls and women will not only lead to the development of the country, but also the global sustainable development goals. According to her, women are educated and financially independent they are able to contribute to the development of the country. 

The First lady MrsLordina Mahama noted that the Lordina Foundation believe that education is one of the most important means of empowering women with the knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary to participate fully in the development process. In line with this vision, the Lordina Foundation has been empowering women in skills development and education. 

Starts up kits have been given to people across the country to start businesses whiles schools have benefited from donation of educational materials and clothing. The Lordina Foundation has facilitated the construction of ICT centers, Dining halls among others.

The First lady asserted that women are the backbone of every family and play a vital role in the development of a nation hence they must be empowered.

“The empowerment and autonomy of women and the improvement of their political, social, economic and health status is highly important and essential for the achievement of, not only the development of the country but also the global sustainable development goals”’ she asserted.

She expressed the need for all to join forces to empower our women making them relevant in society and nation building.

The First lady indicated that the donation to Asamankese Government Hospital marks an ongoing activity of my foundation to support communities, women and children across the country.  

“’ I fully understand how important health is to the development and well-being of the people of Asamankese and I understand better what a well-functioning hospital means for them. The need to support your hospital is critical because Asamankese is one of the busiest commercial towns in the Eastern region Being a busy market centre means that the hospital needs more resources to be able to cope with the demand for its services ”’ the first lady stated.

Stating the goal of the Lordina Foundation which  is to help save lives in our hospitals and to support the government to achieve its vision of health all she was delighted that the government has come up with a healthcare mix of CHIPS compounds, mobile vans called “Onuado” in addition to other health facilities thus bringing healthcare delivery to the doorstep of the people.

Osaberima Adu Darko .Asamankesehene added his voice in praise of the government for the ongoing developmental projects in the country and Asamankese community. He expressed appreciation to the first Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama for the donations . As Ghana goes to the polls come December 7, Osaberima Adu Darko III advised the people of Ghanaians especially the youth and  politicians to be mindful of their utterances in order to have a peaceful elections.

For her part the Eastern Regional Minister Mavis Frimpong praised the first lady for her philanthropic work which has taken her in all regions across the country. She described her as  a mother for all who is much concern about the welfare of her people especially women and children.

Earlier the First Lady passed through the Saint Roses Senior High School where she interacted with the students. She advised the students to take their studies seriously and make their books their friends.

The First lady was accompanied by the Eastern Regional Minister Mavis Frimpong, Baaba Jamal Member of Parliament of the area and some   executives of the National Democratic Party.