The USAID Resiliency in Northern Ghana (RING) project has organized this year’s World breastfeeding day in Buipe, capital of the central Gonja district in the Northern Region with a call on lactating mothers to religiously practice exclusive breastfeeding.
The event which attracted stakeholders from the health, agriculture and other sectors was under the theme, “Breastfeeding: a key to sustainable development.”
Nutrition Officer of the USAID-RING project, Kristen Kappos implored the participants especially lactating mothers to espouse breastfeeding as a critical behavior for ensuring healthy growth and development of the child.
“Nursing mothers should stick to breastfeeding for the first six months after which they can introduce the sour foods to children.”
“Breast milk is nutritious and it prevents illnesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia and it helps the baby to grow strong and smart,” she underscored.
Kristen Kappos reiterated the USAID-RING project’s endeavor to collaborate with the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to combat malnutrition in rural Ghana.
She urged health workers, volunteers and farmers to intensify their advocacy on breastfeeding within their operational zones.
The Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Jacob Mahama in a speech read on his behalf commended the USAID-RING for harmonizing the regional nutrition programmes and activities aimed at curbing deficiencies in health delivery.
He revealed, “Northern Region is faced with multiple factors which impact negatively on nutritional outcomes. 20 percent of children under five being underweight and 33.3 percent are scanted.”
Dr. Jacob Mahama said, “The region is bedeviled with high rate of micro nutrient deficiencies such as anemia and Vitamin ‘A’ deficiency.”
“Exclusive breastfeeding rate remain very low at 64.7 percent and it has remained unchanged for two decades.” He bemoaned.
Dr. Jacob Mahama however disclosed, “Despite the shortfall, the region in collaboration with development partners has implemented many interventions to scale up infant feeding activities as well improve knowledge and skills of health providers in the area of behavior change communication.”
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.c.om/Ghana