Accra recently hosted a historic gathering of African First Ladies, marking a day of sisterhood, solidarity, and shared commitment to maternal and child health.
The high-level ICASA 2025 Side Event on Ending Mother-to-Child Transmission and the Triple Elimination of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B in Africa brought together influential leaders dedicated to improving the health and dignity of African mothers and children.
Among the distinguished guests were H.E. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone and President of OAFLAD; H.E. Mrs. Rachel Ruto, First Lady of Kenya; H.E. Fatoumatta Bah Barrow, First Lady of The Gambia; H.E. Madam Kartumu Yarta Boakai, First Lady of Liberia; and the former First Lady of South Africa, H.E. Tobeka Stacie Madiba Zuma.
The gathering celebrated not only the stature of the attendees but their shared determination to translate advocacy into concrete action.
“The power of this gathering lies not merely in our titles but in our shared determination to translate advocacy into action and platforms into progress,” one First Lady noted during the meeting.
The leaders emphasized their unique responsibility to elevate the voices of those often unheard—the mothers in remote villages, vulnerable newborns, and communities striving for healthier lives.
Organizers and supporting partners, including OAFLAD, UNAIDS, the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), and NAP+ Ghana, were commended for providing technical support and leadership, ensuring the event’s impact extended beyond the conference room.
In her closing remarks, the First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama underscored a simple but powerful message: no child should enter the world bearing a preventable infection, and no mother should be denied the services and dignity that safeguard her health and secure her baby’s future.
