Ms Claudia Lumor, the Chief Executive Officer of Glitz Africa was on Wednesday 23 May 2018, unveiled as the United Nations Population Fund Honorary Ambassador for Ghana. The unveiling was part of the activities marking the 2018 International Day to end Obstetric Fistula.

The United Nations has a tradition of enlisting the volunteer services and support of prominent individuals, usually from the world of art, academia, literature, sports and entertainment to raise awareness on the aims, objectives and priorities of the Organization, as well as convey messages about the Fund’s activities, and extend its public outreach.

Ms. Claudia Lumor, upon recommendations by the UNFPA Ghana Office, was appointed in January 2018 by the UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem, as the UNFPA Honorary Ambassador to Ghana.

In his remarks, UNFPA Representative, Niyi Ojuolape said with this appointment, Ms. Lumor’s role will be to create greater awareness among members of the public on reproductive health and population issues. She will also make known the mission of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. She will also bring to the attention of the public and decision makers throughout Ghana, and the world, the needs and the rights of people, especially women to reproductive health, including maternal health, family planning, reproductive rights and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. She will, among other things, also remind donor governments of the promises they made at the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) to increase their financial contributions so that the ICPD Programme of Action can be fully implemented to promote universal access to reproductive health by 2030.

A Nigerian Film Icon Ms Stephanie Linus, who is also the UNFPA Central and West Africa Regional Ambassador, graced the occasion. An award winning film “Dry” that she produced and directed was screened at the event to raise awareness on Obstetric Fistula.

UNFPA, together with the National Obstetric Fistula Taskforce and the Ghana Health Service, launched the 100 in 100 initiative to enable the country to clear the backlog and prevent the occurrence of new cases. Fourteen deserving surgeons, whose drive and zeal made a remarkable impact on the lives of Obstetric Fistula clients and restored dignity to many of them, were recognised.

Present at the ceremony were people from the donor community, celebrities, government officials, women including the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei and the Former First Lady Mrs Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.