Rabat – Morocco’s Princess Lalla Asmae and First Lady of Cote d’Ivoire Dominique Ouattara chaired today the launch of the second phase of the “United, we are each other better” program.
The initiative’s second phase which has been launched in Abidjan aims to restore hearing to disadvantaged African children.
The partnership marks the beginning of the partnership between the Lalla Asmae Foundation, and the Children of Africa Foundation.
Upon her arrival at the Mother and Child Hospital in Abidjan, the Moroccan princess was welcomed by different Ivorian officials including Kandia Kamissoko, Cote d’Ivoire Minister of State as well as Pierre Dimba, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Morocco’s Minister of Health Khalid Ait Taleb as well as Minister of Solidarity Awatif Hayar were part of the delegation accompanying the princess during the inauguration of the initiative.
Following the arrival, Princess Lalla Asmae and Cote d’Ivoire’s First Lady visited the children who benefited from cochlear implant operations, from Mali, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, and Burkina-Faso.
Princess Lalla Asmae with Cote d’Ivoire First Lady Dominique Ouattara
Lalla Asmae and Ouattara also visited the operating venue, where the surgical microscope and micromotor donated by the Lalla Asmae Foundation to the Children of Africa Foundation are used to help restore the hearing of children with disabilities.
During the first phase of the initiative, 35 children from several West African countries arrived in Morocco to receive cochlear implants in October last year.
Emphasizing the foundation’s determination, coordinator of the Lalla Asmae Foundation Karim Essakalli said that Morocco has always seen “South-South cooperation as a strategic choice.”
He stressed that this choice stems from the leadership of King Mohammed VI and his approach to the development of the African continent.
Speaking on the initiative, Ait Taleb recalled the collaboration between the two countries in the field of healthcare, noting that this “strong cooperation is in line with the sustainability goals” aimed at supporting the common vision of King Mohammed VI and President Alassane Ouattara for the development of both countries.
Ouattara also expressed her gratitude to King Mohammed VI for his humanitarian vision and solidarity demonstrated towards Africa and African children.
During the launch of the initiative, the First Lady of the Cote d’Ivoire told the visiting princess that she “kindly request your highness to convey your sincere appreciation to his majesty King Mohammed VI for his humane vision and the solidarity he has shown towards African children.”
She also pointed out that the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, whose chairwoman is the Moroccan princess, provided around 20 industrial hearing aids for the benefit of children from different countries, including Burkina Faso, Kenya, iger, Mali, and Togo, in addition to Cote d’Ivoire.
