Political

Haiti: First Lady Sophia Martelly Involved in Social Projects

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - It all started on December 25, when she was eighteen, distributing hot meals to the needy. It continued with the involvement of her husband, Michel Martelly, the fest of St-Michel in the parish of Fontamara, the neighborhood of her childhood.

Then, cyclones, back to school, or supporting the national football team, the Martellys were involved in all major causes and have built a reputation. Of social policy, this step was quickly taken.

Today, in his office at the National Palace, in the open space that houses the command center of the Presidency, Sophia Martelly holds a string of meetings. The former manager has a great knowledge of all Port-au-Prince, and especially projects which each day reach more people.

"I want, in my place, extend my work on projects more and more. I surround myself with experts, they provide the foundation of projects," she declared in the interview.

The first major release in the social field of the first lady was support for mental health. It made ​​visible the madness on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.

Since the launch of #177, a special issue that allows a brigade to collect stray and crazy people requiring care she has not stop. The streets are empty, the shelters are full.

"Our work also aims to raise awareness about those patients who are both locked up and neglected in their own homes, ignored their entourage. In addition to the emergency number, there is a website that collects calls and set up a geographic information system," says the first lady.

Also in the field of health, Sophia Martelly also involved in the fight against AIDS. Representation of Haiti to UN conferences on AIDS, participation in a conference on the contamination from mother to child, Chairman of the Committee of multisectoral coordination (CCM) is the national focal point of the Global Fund.

It is not only AIDS requiring attention. "I see health as a global process. Must be educated to know that hand washing after defecation protects, we must do everything possible to reduce the infant mortality rate, as do more than women die in childbirth. The main remedy is prevention and this is through education," she insists.

Another hobby of Sophia Martelly, civics. An old concern that has dragged on for years. "It completes a project that will be presented shortly to an important action." Another project, which advance him fast: Aba Grangou. Action against hunger to be one of the major axes of the presidency of her husband, Michel Martelly.

A team of experts have been working on this project for months. Mrs. Martelly visited Brazil and international institutions to find the procedures and funding for global action for families, targeting children and women.

"Just as the stock of the family, which exists in the countries of Latin America. We will provide assistance to certain conditions. Parents will send children to school, get vaccinated, not to commit to a high number of children, etc. ... said one of the experts of the Presidency, which assists the first lady.

"The numbers are shocking. Food insecurity affects about five million Haitians. The government's goal is to reduce the number by half by 2015. But the most immediate goal is to help 220,000 of our compatriots in critical situations to receive one meal a day, then two, "said Klaus Eberwein Nouvelliste.

"Aba grangou be a way to make social while raising domestic production. 53% of food products are imported. There are some who go currencies and unemployment created, "he said.

"Converge all existing resources, those of the State, NGOs and international institutions and take into account the new national budget orientation of social action is one of the objectives of the couple Martelly in complete merger this issue," according to Klaus Eberwein.

On January 12, a first program will be announced, according to the expert.

Feeding affects maternal instinct of the first lady, who has a large family.

She is also mother and, as such, during the interview she give a new, one of her children called four times in less than 10 minutes on one of the three phones it takes everywhere.

"I am divided between all my roles. At 7 o'clock every night, I try to return and to iron their lessons to my daughter Malaika is primary and Yanni is in ninth grade. By far, I studies Sandro is in college."

"My husband is often absent, when I travel it is really necessary. However, on weekends, when possible, the whole family ends up in the provinces."

As the interview ends, she hires a conversation with his son via BBM Sandro who is in Canada. Sandro transmits its schedule for the holiday season and New Year.

Martelly in the family, there is a politician who takes over, Olivier, advisor to his father and a musician, Sandro, who, on stage, sings and dances like his father ... or almost.

The next announcement of the first lady will concern the Haitian students. For Christmas, Dec. 23, she took the initiative to organize a great roundup very original. No need to buy tickets.

It will be free. It will allow 10,000 students to earn motorcycles, computers, telephones, food baskets, book purchases, savings accounts, televisions, internet packages, etc ...

Asked about the Rose et Blanc Foundation which she founded to bring the social actions of the couple, Mrs. Martelly concedes it has not functioned since the election campaign and her new role.

"I am not involved and I want a manager, an executive director."