The Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) has called on African First Ladies to spearhead the fight against Monkeypox, a disease increasingly becoming a global health concern. This call was made during OAFLAD’s summit, held on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly.
Prominent among those in attendance was Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who shared her experiences and outlined her efforts through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). She highlighted that RHI focuses on five areas: Economic Empowerment, Social Investment, Agriculture, Health, and Education, all of which align with her husband’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“In Nigeria, I am driving the campaign through the Renewed Hope Initiative, where we have 5 areas; Economic Empowerment, Social Investment, Agriculture, Health, and Education. All of these are in line with my husband’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Mrs. Tinubu stated in a release by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi.
The First Lady further elaborated on efforts to address food security, mentioning the recent launch of the Young Farmers Club in senior primary and high schools, aimed at involving young people in agriculture from an early age. She also announced an ongoing competition titled “Every Home a Garden,” with a prize to be awarded in December 2024, in response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration on food security.
During the summit, the panelists, including representatives from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and other international partners, emphasized the urgent need for action against Monkeypox. The African First Ladies were urged to lead initiatives against the disease, which is rapidly becoming a global epidemic.
The session also highlighted President Joe Biden’s commitment, on behalf of the United States, to the cause of eliminating Monkeypox in Africa. The U.S. pledged 1 million doses of the Mpox vaccine and an additional $500 million to support the fight against the disease on the continent.
OAFLAD presented an award to Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and four other First Ladies for successfully launching the #WeAreEqual campaign in their respective countries. The summit, themed “Amplifying Change Through Collaboration,” saw participation from 18 African countries, reflecting a united front in addressing health and development challenges across the continent.
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