The First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan on Friday at the inauguration of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme Maternal and Child Health also known as MAMA Project made a declaration that she should no longer be called Patience but “Mama Peace” henceforth.
According to her, the peace evangelism was what she would be preaching to bring an end to insurgency and terrorism including the menace of Boko Haram islamic sect in the country.
Speaking at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, venue of the event, she also stated that her non-governmental organisation, Women for Change Initiative, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with some international health agencies and hospitals to build, equip and manage the best hospital for women and children in Africa.
The First Lady said, “My name is no more Patience but now Mama Peace because I believe that without peace, there will be no more women, no more children and no more health sector. Without peace, the international community will be afraid to come and invest in our country.
“Peace is from the heart and not from the tongue or lips; not what you say but what is in you. We pray for genuine peace because peace is the key to our arriving at our desired destination as a nation.
“We are approaching the new year which is a year of peace, progress and so many good things to come. 2014 is going to be a year of no militancy and no Boko Haram because God will shower peace and make us take a U-turn from disaster.”
She also stated that her primary constituency is women and children, adding that it was her concern and interest in their well-being that made her go in search of help from international partners and agencies to establish the best women and children hospital in Africa.
“That was why I went in search of help; that is why soon I’m going to sign an MoU with some international hospital to build one of the best hospital here in Nigeria that will be the best in Africa. The hospital is almost completed and will soon be equipped and then our international partners will run it to provide the best healthcare to our women and children,” Patience Jonathan stated.
Speaking on the MAMA Project, she said the initiative was targeting 500 primary health care facilities and 125 General Hospitals in the country, describing it as an important milestone in the nation’s efforts to ensure maternal, newborn and child survival.
The First Lady added that, “As you are aware, complications related to pregnancy and child birth are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in women of reproductive age in developing countries – Nigeria is no exception.
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