First Lady fetes children
The First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, yesterday joined children of the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital, orphanages and educational institutions for a Christmas party which was held for them.
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After interacting with the children and hospital staff, Mrs Mahama, with support from the Chinese Embassy, donated assorted items and electronics to the Children’s Hospital.
The items included flat screen television sets, washing machines, air conditioners, bags of rice, cartons of milo, drinks and biscuits.
The party, which was sponsored by the Royal Bank, brought together children from the Street Girls Aid, the Osu Children's Home, the Derby Avenue School, the SDA Primary School and the Sacred Heart Institute.
The children were given gifts such as tricycles, toffees, biscuits and drinks.
Respect rights of children
Speaking at the party, Mrs Mahama urged parents to express their love to their children in this season, respect and protect their rights.
“As parents and faithful believers of the almighty God, it is our duty to lead our lives in such a way that we would be role models for our children to follow”, she stated.
She encouraged children to make the gospel of Jesus a part of their lives and heed the advice of their parents.
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Touching on good hygiene, Mrs Mahama advised the children to develop the habit of good hygiene in order to avoid infectious disease such as cholera and Ebola.
The need for quality time
For his part, the Board Chairman of the hospital, Rev Father Andrew Campbell, expressed concern about the amount of time parents spent with their children in recent times.
He said the family system was now breaking down due to the fact that parents spent more time outside the home, denying their children the love and care they need for their development.
Father Campbell said what was more worrying was the situation where children were left in the care of nannies and house helps, while their parents spent more time on work and other activities.
"Children should not look like strangers to their parents", he added.
With the evolution of technology, Father Campbell said showing care and love to children was not about the expensive and sophisticated phones, tablets, Ipads and gifts but the quality care given to them.
“In this season, parents should eat, play and spend quality time with their children because they want to be loved, cared for, appreciated and praised by their parents,” he said.
On the challenges of the hospital, Father Campbell said some departments in the hospital were vacant because they lacked doctors.
He, therefore, appealed to the Ministry of Health to post the requisite personnel to the hospital and also requested the First Lady and the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Baohong, to support the hospital to construct a three-storey building for X-ray, Pharmacy and other departments.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Sun Baohong, commended the First Lady for her philanthropic work which had won her international and local recognition.