-Assures support for medical treatment
The First Lady of Liberia, Clar Weah, has expressed deep regrets over the cruel treatment meted out to 5year-old Ama Geeplay, resulting to the burning of her hands and other body parts in the country’s southeastern Maryland County.
According to a release from her Office, the First Lady registered her regrets on March 1 during a visit to see little Ama at St. Joseph Catholic Hospital where she is currently receiving medical treatment.
Madam Weah, who, for a moment seemed speechless, said she was saddened and nearly burst out in tears as she hugged little Ama Geeplay. “I am happy to be here. I wanted to come earlier but I travelled,” said First Lady Weah.
“Honestly, it saddens me to see what happened to this child. I cannot look at the pictures because it totally breaks my heart,” Madam Weah lamented.
She called for drastic measures to protect children against such acts.
“We have to try to implement measures where we can protect these children because it’s sad that someone could do something like this to an innocent child,” she noted.
Little Ama’s hands were burned in hot oil by her aunt for allegedly eating leftover food without permission. The child’s palm is seriously defaced – with three fingers cutoff, amid the dire need of intensive care.
It can be recalled that the incident occurred in Maryland County, Southeastern Liberia. However, Baby Ama, as she is affectionately called, was brought to Monrovia through the assistance of the Gender Ministry and some child protection actors.
Addressing a group of women including officials of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ama’s mother as well as child protection actors, First Lady Weah assured her commitment to ensure that the girl’s burnt hands are functional again.
Mrs. Clar Weah said despite the prevailing national economic constraints and while her Office was still being setup, she was ready to do everything possible within her power to assist the baby get the requisite help to feel hopeful and part of society again.
“With this case, I am sure we can do something. With your voice and my voice we can try to find a way to help her because she needs it. Even if I have to use my personal money to do it, I will,” Mrs. Weah said passionately.
Owing to her passion for children and commitment to humanitarian work, Madam Weah, has over the last couple of weeks visited twelve orphanages and identified with disaster victims in Monrovia and its environs donating relief items as a show of love and concern.
The First Lady said, while she intends to work with various orphanages in the country, her vision is to establish her own orphanage where children will be given the highest level of care for the realization of their life dreams.
For her Part, Deputy Gender Minister for Children & Social Protection, Ms. Lydia Sherman, thanked the First Lady for taking off time from her busy schedule to visit Baby Ama. Deputy Minister Sherman said the Gender Ministry is prepared to work with Mrs. Weah in providing the needed children-related information to enhance her work.
Also speaking the head of the a local NGO, Rescuing the Abused and Abandoned Children in Hardship, (REACH), Ms. Ne-suah Livingstone, said they were impressed with the First Lady’s visit; noting that it was a show of support aimed at buttressing their effort to ensure the victim gets the necessary treatment.
According to her, REACH’s intervention into the child’s situation was based on the need to assist; not just as Liberians but as women who also went through similar challenges growing up. She said her organization is partnering with a group in the United States that wants to underwrite the cost of the child’s medical treatment.