Lordina Mahama pledges expanded health, education drive for women and children at OAFLAD Assembly

First Lady, Lordina Dramani Mahama has outlined ambitious plans to boost healthcare access, education, and economic empowerment for women and children, calling for stronger African partnerships during her address at the 30th General Assembly of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) on Sunday, 15th February 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Speaking on the theme “Building Resilience for Women and Children: Climate, Conflict, and Sustainable Futures,” Mrs. Mahama spotlighted her Lordina Foundation’s work in health, education, and poverty alleviation. “As we move toward 2026 and beyond, we are intensifying our focus on three critical areas,” she said, naming healthcare as the “cornerstone” of family and national strength.

The foundation has provided free nationwide screenings for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, breast and eye conditions, and prenatal care, in partnership with the Ghana AIDS Commission. These efforts have reached thousands in the Greater Accra and Bono regions, combating HIV/AIDS stigma through treatment and counseling.

Since 2024, quarterly free screenings and medical supplies have supported retired ministers of the Assemblies of God church and their spouses, a vital lifeline for these lifelong servants. The foundation has also built modern maternity and children’s wards at Bole District Hospital, Nkoranza Municipal Hospital, and Bodom Health Centre, with another in the Oti region nearing completion. It renovated and expanded the Hohoe Adabraka Health Centre and donated essential equipment nationwide, including hospital beds, incubators, ultrasound machines, and phototherapy units.

In December 2025, Mrs. Mahama hosted fellow First Ladies at the ICASA Conference in Accra with UNH, WHO, and UNFPA to address mother-to-child HIV transmission. Looking ahead, she announced expansions into hard-to-reach areas, including new facilities, equipment, leader training, and funding via the Ghana Medical Child Fund for uninsured treatments. “When women and children are healthy, families are stronger, and nations prosper,” she emphasized.

On education, Mrs. Mahama recommitted to scholarships for brilliant but needy students. A new partnership with the Merck Foundation launched the Education Linda Scholarship Programme, now aiding 40 junior high school girls with uniforms, stationery, and fees. “Education unlocks potential. Every girl we support becomes a leader, change-maker, and nation-builder,” she said.

For economic empowerment, the foundation equips female artisans, such as hairdressers and dressmakers, with tools after training. In 2026, it will support small and medium enterprises, aligning with Ghana’s 24-hour economy and the new Women’s Development Bank. Community programs will teach beading, hairdressing, technology, and digital skills. “When we empower a woman economically, we empower an entire family and uplift a whole community,” Mrs. Mahama noted.

Aligning with OAFLAD’s resilience campaign, she pledged continued health outreach and invited partners to join. “Through medical outreach and community support, we are working toward a future where no woman or child is left behind.” She thanked collaborators and reaffirmed her office’s commitment.

The assembly, hosted in Ethiopia’s capital, brought together African First Ladies and one First Gentleman to tackle women’s and children’s issues amid climate challenges, conflict, and sustainable development, urging action beyond slogans to aid Africa’s poor and vulnerable.

Source:Fiilafmonline/3News