Queen Mathilde in Ethiopia: Days Three and Four

Her Majesty Queen Mathilde continued her mission in Ethiopia on Wednesday November 11.

On her third day of the visit the Queen went to Kersa, a district in the East of the Oromia Region.  Along with local authorities and UNICEF volunteers, Queen Mathilde visited the Nagaya Omer Kule Health Post, a medical center. The Queen was informed about the projects held by UNICEF in the fields of health, care, nutrition.

#UNICEF #Ethiopia – Adequate nutrition is key for children's growth and development pic.twitter.com/qcp66ASdgM

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) November 11, 2015

Then Queen Mathilde visited a cultural handicraft training centre. Afterwards the Queen made a tour through the walled city of Harar accompanied by the Belgian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Didier Nagant De Deuxchaisnes.

The fourth and last day of the mission, Thursday November 12, Queen Mathilde was in Addis Ababa and visited the Gandhi Memorial Hospital. The hospital, founded in 1954, is specialised in maternal and neonatal health service. The Queen met female victims of sexual violence.

#UNICEF #Ethiopia Dr. Bogaletch Gebre helps victims of female genital mutilation, changes mentalities of men & women pic.twitter.com/VU8Cerd2VU

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) November 12, 2015

Later the Queen attended a meeting with women who suffered genital mutilation and other traditional practices. Queen Mathilde was accompanied by Dr. Bogaletch Gebre, an Ethiopian scientist and activist who founded a charitable organization that aims to protect women’s right. Dr. Gebre was awarded with the King Baudouin International Development Prize in 2013.

Queen Mathilde was also received by the Ethiopian President, Mulatu Teshome, at the Presidential Palace. During the meeting they talked about the UNICEF projects improving health status of mothers and children and the President explained all the efforts made to fight the traditional mutilation practice that affect women and to improve the condition of mothers and children.

#UNICEF #Ethiopia Meeting with the Ethiopian President over child survival, a priority for action of UNICEF Belgium pic.twitter.com/4vnVnNV2aa

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) November 12, 2015

Filed under Belgium
Tagged Ambassador, Ethiopia, Health, Hospital, Patronage, President Teshome of Ethiopia, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, UNICEF, Women's Rights, Working Visit.