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Melania Trump is taking her 'Be Best' campaign to Africa in her first major solo trip as first lady
Melania Trump is taking her 'Be Best' campaign to Africa in her first major solo trip as first lady
Ashley CollmanOct 3, 2018, 03:34 IST
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First lady Melania Trump arrived in Accra, Ghana on Tuesday for the first day of a nearly week-long African tour.
On her first day, Trump visited with a hospital and had tea with Ghanaian first lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo.
In the coming days, she will also visit Malawi, Kenya and Egypt.
First Lady Melania Trump landed in Accra, Ghana on Tuesday morning for a six-day tour of Africa where she will see how the US foreign aid is being put to use on the continent, improving health, early childhood education and conservation efforts.
It marks her first major solo trip as first lady.
On the first day of her trip, Trump visited a hospital and had tea with the Ghanaian first lady. Over the next several days, she will also make stops in Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt.
Part of Trump's trip to Africa is to observe how the US's foreign aid organization, USAID, is helping programs on the continent. The hospital is participating in a USAID program to promote childhood nutrition.
At one point during her visit, she witnessed how babies at the hospital were weighed — by being placed in a sack that is then attached to a hook on the scale. She also visited a neonatal intensive care unit in a new wing of the hospital.
In a statement last month, the first lady's office said "her trip will focus on maternal and newborn care in hospitals, education for children, the deep culture and history woven into each African country, and how the United States is supporting each country on its journey to self-reliance."
The first lady's trip was first put into motion back in February — the same month her husband came under fire for allegedly calling African nations "s---hole countries."
After her visit at the hospital, Trump was hosted at the Ghanaian presidential palace, Jubilee House, for a private tea with the first lady.
During their meeting, the two first ladies exchanged gifts. Trump brought a Chippendale silver tray embossed with an image of the White House for Mrs. Akufo-Addo, and received Kente cloth and artifacts in return.
After their half-hour visit, Trump retired to her hotel for the afternoon.