First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo Taking Part In Serving The Children At The Party
First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo joined children on admission at the Princess Marie Louis Children’s Hospital and their caregivers for their annual Christmas party.
Mrs Akufo-Addo spent the day with the children interacting with them while wishing them speedy recovery as she went round the health facility with the hospital management.
Addressing the participants, including schoolchildren from surrounding areas, the first lady extended the season’s greeting from the president and herself to the children.
She showed their appreciation to parents and staff of the hospital for the sacrifices they make to ensure the kids are better.
Mrs Akufo-Addo took the opportunity to make some remarks on nutrition and its importance to the health of children, urging caregivers to take nutrition especially during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life seriously.
She said, “There is overwhelming evidence that a significant number of Ghanaian children are malnourished, with many suffering from anaemia.”
The first lady entreated nursing mothers to breastfeed their children well, saying that “one easy, simple and effective way of fighting malnutrition and anaemia is to encourage breastfeeding and ensure the appropriate nutritional foods as children grow.”
Mrs Akufo-Addo called on “all stakeholders to spread the gospel of breastfeeding and proper nutrition”, adding that if appropriate nutrition for children is ensured, this will go a long way to improve childhood development and “help us build stronger future generations.”
She also indicated that following the completion of Komfo Anokye Mother and Baby Unit, her next project “is at the Korle-Bu Children’s Emergency Ward and then hopefully we will look at other regions.”
Mrs Akufo-Addo commended and thanked all partners and contributors of her various projects, adding that without them she could not have executed these projects.
The first lady, on behalf of The Rebecca Foundation and the Infanta Malaria Foundation, donated assorted items, including bags of rice, cartons of chicken and beef, packets of biscuits, cooking oil, soft drinks, bags of beans and other items as her contribution towards the kid’s party.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri