First Lady receives Humanitarian Award

The First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, has been honoured at the 50th International Women Luncheon of the Rainbow Push Coalition for outstanding work in advocating for the destitute and vulnerable children in Africa.

She was also recognised for her role as President of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV (OAFLA) and for her campaign to empower women to take charge of their reproductive health rights, as well as end mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

The luncheon, which took place in Chicago in the United States of America (USA), also provided a platform for the First Lady to discuss and update delegates of her various activities in contributing to development in Africa, as well as areas for collaboration.

Humanitarian work

In a speech read on her behalf, the First Lady stressed the need to recommit to creating a global community in which every woman was treated with dignity, and every child was loved and cared for.

She said humanitarian work was not exclusive to governments or philanthropists but to all who looked to the world and were hopeful of its development.

Mrs Mahama described the award as a call to strengthen efforts in forging a society where each person could dream and still reach that dream, as well as a call to forge an inclusive world where true equality was a reality.

Dignitaries

In attendance at the luncheon were Mrs Hillary Clinton, the standard bearer of the Democratic Party in the USA, who spoke about women’s right to health care, reducing gun violence, among other issues.

Individuals who were honoured at the event included the First Lady of the US, Mrs Michelle Obama, Mrs Stella Obasanjo, former First Lady of Nigeria, as well as several women activists and corporate leaders.

Dedication

Mrs Mahama dedicated the award that was received on her behalf by the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, to all persons working to build a fairer and equal society.