African First Ladies urged to lead fight against Mpox at UNGA Summit

KUNLE SANNI

The Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) has called on African First Ladies to champion the fight against Mpox as part of a broader continent-wide campaign for gender equity.

The call came during a summit held on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where African First Ladies gathered to discuss pressing health and social issues facing the continent.

The summit, themed “Amplifying Change Through Collaboration,” was part of OAFLAD’s #WeAreEqual campaign, aimed at promoting gender equity across Africa.

Several First Ladies, including Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, shared their experiences in advancing the campaign over the past year.

The Nigerian First Lady, in a statement by her spokesperson, Busola Kukoyi, Wednesday morning, highlighted her efforts in Nigeria through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), which focuses on five key areas: Economic Empowerment, Social Investment, Agriculture, Health, and Education.

She emphasized the importance of engaging young people in agriculture through programs like the Young Farmers Club, launched in primary and secondary schools.

“This aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on food security,” she said, noting that RHI’s Every Home a Garden competition would further encourage sustainable agricultural practices, with winners announced in December 2024.

The summit also addressed critical issues of girl-child education and health. Reflecting on her experience as a former high school teacher, Senator Tinubu shared how she witnessed students dropping out due to early pregnancies, but stressed that second chances are possible through targeted interventions. “We are already seeing positive results, especially in girl-child education and healthcare,” she added.

During a panel discussion featuring representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other global partners, the fight against Mpox emerged as a key topic. African First Ladies were urged to lead the battle against the disease, which is increasingly becoming a global epidemic. The panel noted U.S. President Joe Biden’s commitment to supporting Africa’s fight against Mpox, including the donation of 1 million doses of the Mpox vaccine and an additional $500 million in funding to combat the disease across the continent.

As part of the summit, OAFLAD presented an award of appreciation to Senator Oluremi Tinubu and four other First Ladies for successfully launching the #WeAreEqual campaign in their respective countries. To date, 18 African countries have joined the campaign, which aims to drive change through collaboration.

The summit underscored the critical role of African First Ladies in promoting gender equity, combating health crises, and shaping the continent’s future.