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Morocco’s Princess Lalla Asmae, First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire launch 2nd Phase of ‘United, We Hear Each Other Better’ Operation
Morocco’s Princess Lalla Asmae, Chairwoman of the Lalla Asmae Foundation, and First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, President of the Children of Africa Foundation, chaired on Wednesday at the Mother and Child Hospital in Abidjan, the launch ceremony of the second phase of the “United, we hear each other better” operation, which aims to restore hearing to disadvantaged African children.
The ceremony marks the beginning of a significant partnership between the two foundations, which goes well beyond a simple collaboration, embodying a sincere promise to offer the gift of hearing to those who have been deprived of it.
According to the Moroccan news agency, MAP, the ceremony marks the beginning of a significant partnership between the Lalla Asmae Foundation and the Children of Africa Foundation, which goes well beyond a simple collaboration, embodying a sincere promise to offer the gift of hearing to those who have been deprived of it.
On their arrival at the Mother and Child Hospital in Abidjan, HRH Princess Lalla Asmae and the First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire were greeted by Kandia Kamissoko Camara, Ivorian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Diaspora, Pierre Dimba, Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage and Myss Belmonde Dogo, Minister of Solidarity and the Fight against Poverty, as well as Khalid Ait Taleb, Minister of Health and Social Protection, and Aawatif Hayar, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and the Family.
HRH Princess Lalla Asmae and Dominique Ouattara then visited the children who benefited from the cochlear implant operation, from Mali, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Burkina-Faso.
Her Royal Highness and the First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire also visited the operating theatre, where the surgical microscope and micromotor donated by the Lalla Asmae Foundation to the Children of Africa Foundation are installed.
On this occasion, HRH Princess Lalla Asmae symbolically presented Dominique Ouattara with a prototype cochlear implant.
During the first phase the “United, we hear each other better” operation, organized in October 2022, some 35 children from several West African countries made the journey to Morocco to receive cochlear implants.
At the heart of this campaign is the Lalla Asmae Foundation’s commitment to provide 100 cochlear implants to the Children of Africa Foundation. These small medical devices will open up a world of possibilities for deaf children, enabling them to communicate, learn and thrive.
The Lalla Asmae Foundation is also committed to sharing essential knowledge and expertise by transferring surgical techniques between Moroccan and Ivorian professionals. A state-of-the-art operating theatre will be equipped by the Foundation at the Mother and Child Hospital to guarantee the precision and quality of surgical interventions.
In her speech, Dominique Ouattara, First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire and President of the Children of Africa Foundation, said that this new collaboration between the two Foundations testified to “our shared commitment to improving the health of our children.”
Renewing her sincere thanks and gratitude to HRH Princess Lalla Asmae for the implementation of this program, Ouattara expressed her deep appreciation and gratitude to King Mohammed VI for His humanistic vision and the solidarity shown by the Sovereign towards the children of Africa, as well as for His important contribution to the construction of the Mother and Child Hospital in Bingerville, which has been providing enormous services to the Ivorian population for the past five years.
In his remarks, Karim Essakalli, coordinator of the Lalla Asmae Foundation, emphasized that Morocco, with its African roots and consistent commitment to the progress of Africa, has always made South-South cooperation a strategic choice.
This choice is driven by the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and is based on a comprehensive and balanced vision for the development of the African continent.
He added that the Lalla Asmae Foundation wishes to align itself with this Royal Vision by launching the “United, We Hear Each Other Better” program.
Essakalli highlighted the crucial importance of this initiative, emphasizing the transformative power of hearing in individuals’ lives. He noted that this collaboration transcends borders, covering various regions of Africa, from Côte d’Ivoire to Kenya, through Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Togo.
Speaking on this occasion, Aït Taleb highlighted the fruitful collaboration between Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire in the field of healthcare.
He stressed that this strong cooperation is in line with the sustainability goals, supporting the common vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Alassane Ouattara for the development and well-being of both countries.
He further stated that the Ministry, under the auspices of the Lalla Asmae Foundation, is more than ever ready to consolidate and strengthen this cooperation in the field of healthcare.
Particularly, he emphasized the importance of neonatal deafness screening as an essential tool for early detection, which can contribute to improving the social and academic development of children, reducing healthcare costs, and providing parents with peace of mind.
His Ivorian counterpart, Pierre Dimba, also pointed out that this significant operation will provide assistance to hearing-impaired children, applauding the commendable efforts made by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmae to support this segment of society.
“At the end of this program, we are convinced that thanks to the actions that will be taken, a strong partnership will be forged in this field,” he emphasized, noting that this partnership serves as great motivation for the Ivorian Ministry of Health in its quest to improve the quality of its services and offerings.
Vincent Alexis Gomes, former international director of Lions Clubs International, one of the program’s partners, expressed appreciation for the various social actions carried out by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmae in the social domain and her unwavering commitment to hearing-impaired children.
The ceremony featured a scientific presentation on cochlear implantation by Professor Abdelaziz Raji, Head of the ENT Department at the Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakech and a member of the scientific committee of the “United, We Hear Each Other Better” program.
It also included a program presentation by Karim Essakalli, coordinator of the Lalla Asmae Foundation.
On this occasion, Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmae and Dominique Ouattara presided over the signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement between the Lalla Asmae Foundation and the Children of Africa Foundation.
The agreement was signed by El Abbès Bouhlal, Director of the Lalla Asmae Foundation, and Nadine Sangaré, National Director of the Children of Africa Foundation.
After the ceremony, Princess Lalla Asmae and the First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire, Dominique Ouattara, posed for a commemorative photo.
The partnership between the Lalla Asmae Foundation and the Children of Africa Foundation goes beyond medical procedures. It aims to touch lives, create smiles, and fulfill dreams.
Each child assisted by this initiative is a testament to the collective effort to build a more inclusive, caring, and better world.
Princess Lalla Asmae brings a motivating vision to the “United, We Hear Each Other Better” campaign, where commitment to the cause of children with severe or profound hearing loss translates into concrete actions.
As an emblematic and dedicated figure in the promotion of children’s well-being, Her Royal Highness embodies a source of inspiration for all those advocating for a better future for African children.
The First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire, Dominique Ouattara, known for her leadership and unwavering commitment to children’s well-being, has consistently shown her determination to ensure that every child, whether Ivorian or of another nationality, can benefit from clear hearing and the opportunities it brings.
She has been involved for over 25 years in protecting vulnerable children through the Children of Africa Foundation, which has undertaken numerous charitable actions for the well-being of children in Côte d’Ivoire and 12 other African countries through the centers it supports
Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their Group F opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup, with Brazil’s Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F.
South Africa’s Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the new-look 32-team Club World Cup so points are like gold dust for the likes of the Sundowns and Ulsan.
KEY QUOTES
Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach: “We prepared tactically and strategically very well, and then we found a commitment between everybody. I think it was clear we made a very wonderful first half. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half, so that we could score a second goal that for little details or little centimetres, we could not do.”
Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD head coach: “We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we’re very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game.”
-Reuters
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With a year until Mexico makes history as the first three-time World Cup host, the dream of a spectacular showcase is colliding with the practical challenges of modernising the iconic Azteca Stadium for global soccer’s premier event.
Beneath the imposing silhouette of Mexico’s football cathedral – where Pele dazzled with Brazil in 1970 and Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ propelled Argentina to glory in 1986 – construction crews tackle the formidable task of bringing one of the sport’s most storied venues into the 21st century.
The stakes are magnified as the ‘Santa Ursula colossus’ will host the tournament’s opening match, a global spectacle that will focus the world’s attention on Mexico from day one.
Renovations will expand the stadium’s capacity from 87,000 to 90,000, with upgrades centred on meeting FIFA standards through new changing rooms, enhanced hospitality zones, revamped VIP areas and additional seating in spaces previously occupied by boxes and lounges.
While government officials and football administrators envisioned the project as a symbol of national pride, the renovation process has eroded trust between developers, local residents and other stakeholders.
Stadium administrators announced in February that they had secured a 2.1 billion peso ($110.19 million) credit line from local financial group Banorte – along with a controversial new name: Estadio Banorte.
FIFA regulations mean the stadium will be referred to as “Estadio Ciudad de Mexico” during the World Cup, yet the rebranding has sparked a fierce backlash from some fans, who view it as sacrificing football heritage for commercial interests.
HARSH REALITY
The backlash over the stadium’s new name represents only one facet of the mounting tensions. Box and suite holders – some with relationships spanning decades – have threatened legal action after FIFA announced it would commandeer their seats during the tournament, overriding established contracts.
One member of the Mexican Association of Box Holders has already filed a legal challenge to defend access rights.
Beyond the stadium walls, frustration runs equally deep. Residents of Santa Ursula and surrounding neighbourhoods fear that promised infrastructure improvements like pedestrian bridges and transit lines will fail to address fundamental issues including inadequate lighting, water shortages and persistent traffic congestion.
“We’re not the stadium’s backyard,” one local resident told Expansion Politica. “But we’re always treated that way.”
By contrast, Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico’s other two host cities, face fewer obstacles.
Guadalajara’s 48,000-seat stadium, opened in 2010, has already hosted major events including the 2011 Pan American Games, while Monterrey’s 53,500-capacity venue, inaugurated in 2015, needs only minor upgrades – primarily new turf and a pitch ventilation system.
“We’ll install a system to ventilate and oxygenate the pitch before replacing the grass,” said Alejandro Hutt, Monterrey’s Host City Manager. “That will be an important legacy from the World Cup and beyond.”
As construction continues, Javier Aguirre’s Mexico squad are building towards a crucial summer, with a Gold Cup title defence ahead and friendly matches against Turkey this week, followed by Japan and South Korea in September.
After failing to advance beyond the group stage at Qatar 2022 – their worst World Cup performance since 1978 – Mexican fans crave more than just a well organised tournament. They want to see Mexico break the ‘fifth-game‘ curse and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, the last time they were World Cup hosts.
-Reuters
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All contenders are now known for this year’s President Federation Cup grand finale, following Saturday’s elimination of Edo Queens and Ibom Angels in the women’s semi-finals.
Multiple-winners Rivers Angels saw off the stiff challenge of Ibom Angels of Uyo 1-0 in Aba, while Nasarawa Amazons bumped Edo Queens 2-0 in Ayingba.
Cup holders Rivers Angels, who have won the competition nine times, will have their hands full against 2005 and 2019 champions Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia.
In the men’s competition, Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi are getting set to tackle Kwara United FC in the final.
Results of Semi Finals (Women)
- Rivers Angels (Rivers) 1-0 Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom)
- Edo Queens (Edo) 0-2 Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa)
Results of Semi-Finals (Men)
- Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) 0-0 Ikorodu City (Lagos) – Abakaliki FC win 5-4 on penalties
- Kwara United (Kwara) 1-0 Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
WOMEN’S FINAL
- Rivers Angels vs Nasarawa Amazons
MEN’S FINAL
- Abakaliki FC VS Kwara United
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