Home | First lady | Activities of Silvia Gašparovičová | Year 2009 | Nigerian First Lady visited Slovakia
Mutual cooperation activities in the field of charity, education or development – these were topics which First Ladys of Slovakia and Nigeria discussed. The first-ever visit to our country made the spouse of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs. Haji Turai Musa Yar’Adua on September 16, 2009. In the Presidential Palace she was welcomed by the slovak First Lady Mrs. Silvia Gašparovičová. "We see your visit as a step towards closer contacts between Nigeria and Slovakia. Even though we are split on two continents, we combine similar objectives," said Mrs. Gašparovičová. At the same time she informed the Nigerian First Lady about the Slovak Committee for UNICEF, bilateral aid to countries of Africa and the cooperation potential of Nigeria and Slovakia in education and health resort.
Both First Ladies have similar goals – helping those who need it most. The spouse of the slovak President advised Mrs. Yar’Adua on their activities in the Slovak Foundation of Silvia Gašparovičová – Education and Health for Everybody. "One of the reasons why I established the Foundation was also the fact that I can help those who need it most – disabled citizens or socially disadvantaged groups. Assistance also goes to health care – we help to provide medical equipment. We help violated women to solve their crisis situation through the Helpline, the Point of First Contact in the hospital and by education of this group of women. Children and young people in schools we face various actions on the healthy eating and movement," said Mrs. Silvia Gašparovičová. Nigerian First Lady has an ambition to do more in the fight against cancer. "In Abuja, a center was created to help patients suffering from this disease. It is very important to inform people about the disease and make early diagnosis, so we can reduce the number of diseases. I hope that Slovakia will also be involved in helping in the fight against cancer in Africa," said the Nigerian First Lady. In the African region, according to Mrs. Yar’Adua, occur several such centers.
Mrs. Haji Turai Yar’Adua is the founder of the Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation, aimed at advancement of women and youth in African society. "The Foundation organizes 3-6 month courses. They also get a loan from us. It is for them a seed capital that makes them independent on men." The Nigerian First Lady is known for her activities in the fight against poverty, against high child and maternal mortality, as well as for reducement of incidence of HIV/AIDS. Along with the wives of members of the government she established the children’s hospital in the country. "We try to encourage them to have no fear and to come to us. We provide free assistance to them. Many Nigerian mothers don´t bear in hospitals but at home, which increases the risk of transmitting the disease to children," said Mrs. Yar’Adua.
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