Rebecca Akufo-Addo, First Lady of Ghana
Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, the First Lady, on Sunday paid tribute to all mothers for the unique role they play to make the world a better place.
She said: “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, as the world celebrates Mothers Day, I would like to call attention to some issues that affect the well-being of women and children,” Mrs Akufo-Addo said.
She said as it was a mother’s responsibility to ensure the family was safe and healthy, all mothers were being encouraged to sleep under treated mosquito nets with their families and exclusively breastfeed their babies for at least six months.
Mrs Akufo-Addo said every mother must make sure her children received their vaccinations at the right time and teach older children regular hand washing with soap under running water to prevent them from contracting infections and diseases.
She encouraged women to examine their breasts every month and immediately see a doctor when they noticed any changes in them.
Women must also undertake regular checks for cervical cancer as breast and cervical cancers were known to be the leading causes of deaths in women, she said.
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.
“With early diagnoses and treatment, babies could be prevented from being infected with HIV from an HIV positive mother during pregnancy or breastfeeding,” she said.
Mrs Akufo-Addo said mothers living with HIV could live long, healthy and happy lives if they abided by the rudiments of their medication.
She expressed the hope that measures being put in place to reduce maternal mortality yield results.
“Maternal mortality still remains a major healthcare problem and I believe it is our collective responsibility to reduce the risks that pregnant women face while carrying a baby. Please attend antenatal check-ups and follow the advice of your health provider.”
The First lady urged mothers to see to it that their children, especially the girls, go to school and stay in school.
“It should be the delight of every mother to see their children get an education to give them equal advantage in a global space.”
“Happy Mothers’ Day to all our remarkable mothers,” Mrs Akufo-Addo said.
