Education, health key to equality between boys and girls: First Lady
EDUCATION and health are key towards the achievement of equality between boys and girls as well as setting the tone for economic prosperity, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa has said.
Dr Mnangagwa, a proponent of girl child and women empowerment, made the remarks in a speech read on her behalf by her technical advisor and representative Dr Angela Mushavi at the 28th General Assembly of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD).
The OAFLAD summit, which ended yesterday, was being held under the theme “Educate her and transform Africa: Enhancing access to health and education for the 21st Century’s African women and girls”.
The summit started by observing a minute of silence in remembrance of Namibian President Hage Geingob who passed on recently.
Former Namibian First Lady Monica Geingos was the OAFLAD president.
Guests scrambled for copies of magazines that chronicled the various works being spearheaded by Amai Mnangagwa through her trailblazing Angel of Hope Foundation which were being distributed at the summit.
Her works captured the imagination of other First Ladies, various people and organisations that sought to hear more about her works and prospects for partnerships.
The dignitaries highlighted that they had been highly inspired by Dr Mnangagwa’s works and expressed willingness to emulate them in their respective countries.
They applauded the mother of the nation for her selflessness, commitment and hard work.
The First Lady has countless programmes across many sectors including education, health, agriculture, environment and economic empowerment among many others.
The theme, Dr Mnangagwa said, was truly befitting of OAFLAD’s continental #we are equal campaign rallying behind the call to ‘close the gender gap in Africa’.
“I am of the firm belief that we owe it to our girls and to future generations to close the gender gap in Africa. Enhancing access to health and education is truly the way to go if we are to achieve gender equality and gender parity,” she said.
Recognising the importance of uplifting the lives of girls and young women, Dr Mnangagwa launched the #weareequal campaign at Maria Theresa Clinic in Chiweshe which is her home village.
She constructed the clinic using her personal savings to support her community as they were having to walk long distances to the nearest clinic.
“Furthermore, at the same time as I was launching the #weareequal campaign, I also launched the Global Alliance to end AIDS among children by 2030. I had the pleasure of addressing the community, pregnant and lactating women on the benefits of aspiring towards an HIV and AIDS free generation of children. I took the opportunity to interact with both women and men, and challenged the community to embrace the drive to make women and men truly equal,” she said.
“For the girl child to fulfil her full potential in life, a multitude of actions from multiple fronts are required, chief amongst which is access to education and health. I have been actively involved in the Merck Foundation- Educating Linda program in my country and have to date supported many young girls to acquire an education. I wish to enrol even more young girls in this programme.”
Beyond this, Dr Mnangagwa said she also provides scholarships to both boys and girls coming from challenging environments in the urban areas, as well as those in the very remotest parts of the country.
“Only through a sound education can our girls from underserved communities lift themselves out of poverty. I strongly believe that by educating girls and young women and empowering them economically, we transform their lives and also increase their chances of living long and healthy lives of having healthy children and nurturing healthy families.
“The theme of this year’s OAFLAD 28th General Assembly, ‘Educate her and transform Africa: Enhancing access to health and education for the 21st Century’s African women and girls’, also emanates from Africa’s continental strategy that advocates for strong ties between the education and health sectors,” she said.
Women and girls, Dr Mnangagwa said, need to be supported to access health and education towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on Health and education.
“I wish to assure you all that I will remain resolute in believing in the value of educating the girl child and increasing access to health for our girls and women. May I hasten to say, this does not in any way negate the importance of continuing to address these same issues for men and boys.
“To truly benefit the country, I have expanded my support for education to cover girls from different communities in all the country’s 10 provinces. I do this work through the Angel of Hope Foundation, a charitable Foundation that I founded in 2018.”
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