First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo interacting with other African first ladies at the OAFLA meeting in Addis Ababa
First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed her commitment to continue the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and reproductive health campaign in Ghana.
The campaign which is aimed at implementing interventions to save the lives of mothers and their babies will target the three northern regions of Ghana in its next phase.
Mrs Akufo-Addo stated that the three regions in the northern part of Ghana, which historically have been the most underserved regions, will from February 2018 be tackled with the new campaign she launched in August 2017.
Speaking at the 20th Ordinary General Assembly of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ghana’s first lady disclosed that the Volta Region is currently the region with the highest burden of HIV.
She said during the launch of her campaign in the Volta Region, she personally went through counselling and testing to encourage others to do so.
“We were able to reach about 4,500 community members, with services ranging from distribution of condoms, information and education on HIV and health screening.
This has been my modest achievement in a year. I intend to leave a legacy that will see Ghana achieve elimination of mother-to-child transmission and to this I will commit my time and energy,” Mrs Akufo-Addo reiterated.
“Being first lady presents me with the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Ghanaians. I intend to do all I can for my people,” she said.
The OAFLA members also used the occasion to launch a new campaign dubbed ‘Free To Shine’, which is aimed at directing a new path of commitment towards the prevention of HIV infections among children, adolescents and mothers.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri