• Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Logo
  • - -
  • Home
  • Logo
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Culture & Life
  • Markets
  • Entrepreneurship
  • World
  • Travel
  • Blogs
    • Columnists
  • Logo
  • Read Later
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Culture & Life
  • Markets
  • Entrepreneurship
  • World
  • Travel
  • Blogs
  • Newsletters
  • African Crosswords
  • About Us
      • Ghana: Africa’s First Ladies Meet For Talks On Health Rights

      • Ghana: Africa’s First Ladies Meet For Talks On Health Rights

        Ghana: Africa’s First Ladies Meet For Talks On Health Rights

      • Share this article

      • Kajuju Murori
        Kajuju Murori
        Thu, Feb 11, 2016
      • “These initiatives support the overall work of our governments and we shall support the First Ladies to achieve their objectives”, said Ghana President Mahama.

      • The sitting First Ladies of Africa are taking part in a conference on Sexual Health and Rights (ACSHR) in Accra, Ghana.

        The 7th, three-day conference being hosted by the First Lady of Ghana, Dr Nana Lordina Dramani Mahama, who is also the President of the African First Ladies Against HIV & AIDS (OAFLA), is one of the First Ladies’ of Africa longstanding commitment to build and foster regional dialogue on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

        During the opening ceremony yesterday by President John Dramani Mahama, the women leaders were commended for championing for transformation and change in their respective countries where they have initiated programs that touch the common man, a press statement stated.

        “These initiatives support the overall work of our governments and we shall support the First Ladies to achieve their objectives”, said President Mahama when he officially opened the ACSHR conference at the Kempinski Hotel.

        The conference which is organized by Curious Minds, a youth-led organization in Ghana in collaboration with the office of the Ghana First Lady, is running under the theme “Realizing Demographic Dividend in Africa: The Critical Importance of Adolescents and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights”.

        One of the initiatives run by First Ladies is Kenya’s Beyond Zero campaign under the patronage of Mrs Margaret Kenyatta. Beyond Zero project works to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS, Maternal health and child mortality through the distribution of mobile clinics to all underserved areas across the 47 counties in Kenya.

        Ghana’s First Lady is the patron of the Lordina Foundation which oversees several programs at the grassroots dealing with Maternal health and child survivor, education of girls and empowerment among other programs.

        Speaking on HIV/AIDS infections Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director attributed the high prevalence of the disease among the girls due to multiple partners and polygamous tendencies. He added that infection among the girls can be traced to old men.

        “We must stop this,” Prof Osotimehin said. “We must also stop early marriages by old men and agree that 18 years is the minimum age for marriage for our girls”, the UNFPA boss added calling for the stoppage of Female Genital Mutilation saying it adds no value among the victims.

        He said investing in health and education are the greatest investment any country can make.

        He also called on African governments to invest more on its youth which constitutes the majority of the 16 billion people. “We should do more for the youth”, he said

        The conference which is being attended by First Ladies has also attracted representatives from over 30 nations including Kenya, USA, Europe and several United Nations organizations.

        Since 2004, the conference has been held every two years to dialogue on concrete actions towards policy programming on sexual and reproductive rights in Africa.

        The meeting has previously been held in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Namibia and Cameroon.

        The conference will see the participants launch a United Continental “All-In” adolescent HIV campaign.

        The campaign which Kenya is a signatory, was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in February 2015 in Nairobi.

        Supported by OAFLA and the Global “All-in” partners such as UNICEF, UNFPA and UNAIDS, the campaign is aimed at pushing governments in Africa to prioritize and improve the provision of integrated HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health Services to adolescents between the ages of 10-19.

        Among things that the meeting will discuss include a plenary on ‘ending child marriage in Africa’, and ‘ending female genital mutilation in the region’.

        Image Credit: PSCU

      • Africa First Ladies Sexual health HIV
      • Share this article

        • Are you impressed, have any concerns, or think we can improve this article? Comment below or email us.

      • Comments

      • Follow us for more up to date news and articles

      • More from Culture & Life

        • Breast Ironing: The Violent, Archaic Cultural Practice Done For The 'Good Of The Girls'
          • Breast Ironing: The Violent, Archaic Cultural Practice Done For The "Good Of The Girls"
          • Breast ironing is a traditional practice that involves the use hard or...

          • Wed, Apr 18, 2018

        • Popular Tanzanian Singer, Diamond Platnumz, Arrested For Posting Raunchy Videos on Social Media
          • Popular Tanzanian Singer, Diamond Platnumz, Arrested For Posting Raunchy Videos on Social Media
          • Tanzania has arrested two musicians, including one of the country’s mo...

          • Tue, Apr 17, 2018

        • Poverty and Inequality – the Long-lasting Effect of Apartheid in South Africa
          • Poverty and Inequality – the Long-lasting Effect of Apartheid in South Africa
          • A new report by the World Bank shows that South Africa is one of the m...

          • Sun, Apr 8, 2018

        • Ota Benga: The Tragic Tale Of The Man Who Was Kept In A New York Zoo
          • Ota Benga: The Tragic Tale Of The Man Who Was Kept In A New York Zoo
          • "At first, some people weren’t sure what it was. It — he — seemed much...

          • Mon, Mar 26, 2018

    • Related Stories

      • The Major Problems That Africa is Facing Today in 2017
        • The Major Problems That Africa is Facing Today in 2017
        • None of Africa’s problems is beyond the means and resources within the...

        • Wed, Apr 5, 2017

      • Top 10 African Myths
        • Top 10 African Myths
        • From the freaky show-stoppers that give more chills than the finest ho...

        • Fri, Jul 31, 2015

      • The 10 Most Peaceful African Countries
        • The 10 Most Peaceful African Countries
        • Lots of the usual suspects, but also plenty of surprises in the Global...

        • Sun, Aug 2, 2015

      • Meet Africa's Most Educated Presidents
        • Meet Africa's Most Educated Presidents
        • They don’t just wield political power alone, they are an authority in ...

        • Sat, Sep 24, 2016

      • Impact of Foreign Aid on Economic Growth in Africa
        • Impact of Foreign Aid on Economic Growth in Africa
        • Foreign aid is a modern joystick used to play a modern game called the...

        • Fri, Jul 31, 2015

    • Popular right now

      • Breast Ironing: The Violent, Archaic Cultural Practice Done For The 'Good Of The Girls'
        • Breast Ironing: The Violent, Archaic Cultural Practice Done For The "Good Of The Girls"
        • Breast ironing is a traditional practice that involves the use hard or...

        • Wed, Apr 18, 2018

      • The Cheapest Countries To Live or Retire in Africa, 2018
        • The Cheapest Countries To Live or Retire in Africa, 2018
        • GoBankRates made a list of the cheapest countries in the world to live...

        • Thu, Apr 19, 2018

      • Africa's Growing Debt Levels Cause For Concern: Countries With The Biggest Debts in Africa
        • Africa's Growing Debt Levels Cause For Concern: Countries With The Biggest Debts in Africa
        • The African debt crisis may be grave than we can imagine. It could ser...

        • Tue, Apr 17, 2018

      • Yes To Compulsory Acquisition of Land: Learning from Robert Mugabe
        • Yes To Compulsory Acquisition of Land: Learning from Robert Mugabe
        • South Africa has a chance to prove that land can be taken back for the...

        • Sun, Apr 22, 2018

      • Popular Tanzanian Singer, Diamond Platnumz, Arrested For Posting Raunchy Videos on Social Media
        • Popular Tanzanian Singer, Diamond Platnumz, Arrested For Posting Raunchy Videos on Social Media
        • Tanzania has arrested two musicians, including one of the country’s mo...

        • Tue, Apr 17, 2018

    • Most Read

      • 1.

        Breast Ironing: The Violent, Archaic Cultural Practice Done For The "Good Of The Girls"

        Breast Ironing: The Violent, Archaic Cultural Practice Done For The 'Good Of The Girls'
      • 2.

        The Cheapest Countries To Live or Retire in Africa, 2018

        The Cheapest Countries To Live or Retire in Africa, 2018
      • 3.

        Africa's Growing Debt Levels Cause For Concern: Countries With The Biggest Debts in Africa

        Africa's Growing Debt Levels Cause For Concern: Countries With The Biggest Debts in Africa
      • 4.

        Yes To Compulsory Acquisition of Land: Learning from Robert Mugabe

        Yes To Compulsory Acquisition of Land: Learning from Robert Mugabe
      • 5.

        Popular Tanzanian Singer, Diamond Platnumz, Arrested For Posting Raunchy Videos on Social Media

        Popular Tanzanian Singer, Diamond Platnumz, Arrested For Posting Raunchy Videos on Social Media
    • Read Later
    • Home
    • Politics
    • Technology
    • Business
    • Culture & Life
    • Markets
    • Entrepreneurship
    • World
    • Travel
    • Blogs
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Newsletters
    • African Crosswords
    • My Account
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Copyright © 2018 The African Exponent. All rights reserved.