President Akufo-Addo and wife
PRESIDENT NANA Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, yesterday paid glowing tributes to all mothers in Ghana on the occasion of Mothers’ Day celebration.
In a post from London – where he is on holidays with his family – President Akufo-Addo stated, “Happy Mothers’ Day to my Lady Rebecca, to my daughters and to all Ghanaian women.”
The first lady, who has been championing the cause of Ghanaian women, in her message, pointed out the significant roles mothers play in the socio-economic development of the country and their families, and the hardships they endure as they cater for their children and families.
She described mothers as “unique” figures in the lives of their families and nation, bringing to the fore the strong bond that exists between a mother and her child.
She stated, “Today, we celebrate and pay tribute to a unique figure in our lives – our mother. A mother is God’s gift to her family and the world. The bond between a mother and her child is a spiritual bond that can never be broken. So on this day, I will like to call attention to some issues that affect the well-being of women and children.”
Mrs. Akufo-Addo underscored the roles mothers play in ensuring the safety and health of their families, saying, “It is a mother’s responsibility to ensure the family is safe and healthy.”
EncouragementÂ
Mrs Akufo-Addo, who is the founder of the Rebecca Akufo-Addo Foundation, seized the opportunity to admonish mothers “to ensure they and their families sleep under treated mosquito nets every night and exclusively breastfeed their babies for at least six months.”
Every mother, Mrs. Akufo-Addo advised, must make sure her children receive all their vaccinations at the right time and teach older children regular hand washing with soap and under running water, to prevent them from getting unwanted infections and diseases.
Touching on breast cancer, she stressed, “Please examine your breast every month and immediately see a doctor when you notice any changes in your breast and undertake regular checks for cervical cancer.”
As an advocate for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, the first lady urged every pregnant woman to know her HIV status.
Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo posited, “With early diagnoses and treatment, babies can be prevented from being infected with HIV from an HIV positive mother during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Also, mothers affected can live long, healthy and happy lives to care for their children and families.”
She called for a collective effort in addressing the maternal mortality menace to ensure that women in the country do not lose their lives in the course of delivery.
She concluded, “It should be the delight of every mother to see their children receive education to give them equal advantage in a global space. We as mothers must see to it that our children, especially our girls, go to school and stay in school.”
BY Melvin Tarlue