UN official proposes roll out of Margaret's Beyond Zero campaign across Africa

A top United Nations official wants First Lady Margaret Kenyatta's Beyond Zero initiative rolled out across Africa.

Mieko Ikegame said maternal and child health problems cut across the countries, but can be curbed through the campaign.

Ikegame said Margaret's efforts, in launching 32 mobile clinics in counties and participating in marathons, are "impressive".

The First Lady participated in the London Marathon (42 km) in 2014 and in two editions of her Half Marathon ( 21 km) in Nairobi, to raise funds for the initiative.


Ikegame said the third edition of the marathon, to be launched in Tokyo on Sunday, will raise awareness among the Japanese.

She recommended two marathons; for the general public and the athletics champions Kenya is known for.

She spoke at Westin Hotel, Tokyo, on Thursday, when she met Margaret, who is in Japan to attend the World Assembly for Women, and launch the marathon set for March 6, 2016.

Ikegame said many women leaders in Japan are committed to supporting the Beyond Zero campaign and asked the First Lady to mobilise her peers to replicate it.

“We are impressed by your exceptional efforts. We are committed to support you fully," she said.

Margaret hosted more than 20 African First Ladies to the 9th Stop Breast, Cervical and Prostrate in Africa Conference in Nairobi in July.

She is the new chairperson of the of the African First Ladies and Spouses against Breast, cervical and Prostrate Cancer.

Ikegame further lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta saying; “ I am very impressed by his vision and perspectives about Africa."

She said she is looking forward to the Tokyo International Conference on African Development taking place in Kenya later this year.

The conference will bring together key businessmen and investors from Kenya and Japan, for the exploitation of opportunities, she noted.

“We shall ensure the TICAD summit in Africa is a success”, she said adding: “Let President Uhuru Kenyatta know we are ready to come and help TICAD will bring Japan closer to Africa."

Ikegame is an international civil servant working for the UN, and a leading Japanese UN official, who has served as the President of the UN/Japan Staff Association.

She joined the UN in 1980 and has held key positions in the UN secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme, the Food Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme.

In 2006, Newsweek nominated her as one of the most influential Japanese women in the world.