New york city: The African Development Foundation (ADF) and the Helping Africa Foundation (HAF) have co-hosted a fundraising event in New York to garner international support for the Lordina Foundation’s essential maternity projects across Ghana. The event was organized on the sidelines of the just-ended 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly meeting held in New York City, USA.
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement issued by the Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Mahama, said the gala brought together a distinguished gathering of philanthropists, diplomats, healthcare advocates, and members of the Ghanaian diaspora, all united by a common goal: to improve maternal and infant healthcare outcomes in Ghana. The highlight of the evening was a compelling address by Mrs. Mahama, who detailed the challenges faced by pregnant women in Ghana and the transformative work her Foundation was undertaking.
Mrs. Mahama emphasized that the Foundation’s impact goes beyond statistics, stating, “Our greatest reward is not measured by figures, but by the smiles we bring to the faces we help and the change in the conditions of the groups we assist.” She further explained the Foundation’s mission, “to restore hope and empower lives, one family, one community at a time,” drawing on her personal connection to the cause as a mother.
During her speech, Mrs. Mahama highlighted the urgent need for action, citing tragic statistics from the Ministry of Health that reveal over 3,000 Ghanaian babies do not reach their first birthday each month, with an infant mortality rate of 52 deaths for every 1,000 live births. She also noted that the maternal mortality rate stands at 103 per 100,000, with even higher rates in northern Ghana, emphasizing that no mother should face childbirth fearing for her life or her baby.
Mrs. Mahama shared the origins of her maternity projects’ initiative, crediting her husband, President John Dramani Mahama, for his support. She recounted how they began their efforts when her husband and his political party were in opposition, leading to the construction of the first model 45-bed maternity and children’s ward at the Bole District Hospital in the Savanna Region. Since then, the Foundation’s impact has grown significantly, with three state-of-the-art Maternity and Children’s Wards constructed in Bole, Nkoranza, and Bodom.
The Foundation has also undertaken comprehensive renovations of vital health facilities, including the Hohoe Adabraka Health Centre, transforming them into centers of healing and dignity. These modern facilities have been equipped with essential amenities such as theatres, delivery rooms, and Neonatal Intensive Care Units, along with crucial medical equipment donated to numerous health facilities nationwide.