UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, yesterday appointed
Nigerian actress and activist, Stephanie Linus as the UNFPA Regional
Ambassador for West and Central Africa.
A
Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) of Nigeria, a national
award bestowed on outstanding citizens by the President of Nigeria,
Mrs. Linus is an award-winning actress and activist, who is passionate
about women’s rights and health. She is the executive producer of the
movie – “DRY”, that tells a true-life story of a 10-year-old girl who
was a child bride and who died early due to pregnancy-related
complications, specifically fistula. Through her foundation,
“Extended
Hands”, Mrs. Linus has done extensive work in the field of fistula,
which earned her the Miriam Makeba Award for Excellence in 2007, and the
Beyond the Tears Humanitarian Award.
“It is my
aspiration that access to reproductive health care for women and girls,
especially family planning, will be seen not as a blessing to be wished
for, but as a human right to be fought for,” said Ms. Linus. “Fought
for, not just because of equality, but because we are tired of women
dying while giving birth, tired of teenage girls dropping out of school
because they got pregnant too early, tired
of women not having
a choice to decide if, when and how many children they wish to have. I
know I am tired of this. This is why I feel honoured to partner with
UNFPA and to use my network to make these issues widely known.”
“For
UNFPA, improving the health and status of women and girls remains a
priority, and we will continue to accelerate efforts, by building
strategic partnerships to scale-up successful interventions that put
young people first” said Mabingue Ngom, the Regional Director of West
and Central Africa. “Our ultimate aim is to deliver a world where every
pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s
potential is fulfilled”.
As Regional
Ambassador, Mrs. Linus will help advocate and raise awareness on these
issues, whilst encouraging policies and laws that protect the rights and
dignity of the girl child, and the critical investments needed for
young people to fulfill their potential and for Africa to reap its
demographic dividend.
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