The Atwima Kwanwoma District Health Directorate has marked this year’s child health promotion with a number of activities focused on enhancing newborn healthcare promotion.
As a tradition, the health directorate lined up community durbars, outreach programmer and other activities for the 2024 celebration which was under the theme: “Invest in the Future of your Child”.
The Adum Kwanwoma community hosted the grand durbar of this year’s celebration with the presence of the traditional leaders, mothers with their newborn babies and health workers from various health zones.
Mr. Simon Asare Mireku, Deputy District Director of Health Services in an interview with the Information Services Department (ISD) on behalf of the District Director of Health Services, asked mothers to strictly uphold post-natal service and care, and to seek to ensure total care for their children by devotedly attending child welfare clinics. He said the first five years of the life of every child was the most vulnerable stage as it sets the tone for growth and development of the said child.
Mr. Mireku said it was therefore important for the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to set aside a week annually to highlight child health interventions.
He used the occasion to admonish fathers not to leave the burden only on the mothers but also be responsible and invest in their time and other resources in the Childrens’ healthcare since they are the future of mother Ghana. He highlighted on the need for a heavy emphasis on breastfeeding, nothing that the rate of exclusive breastfeeding should not decrease.
The deputy director expressed his profound gratitude to all mothers for their unflinching support and urged them to go extra mile by devoting all their time, and exert all the energy in them in taking good care of the children and a matter of urgency practice personal hygiene through the development of the children.
Maame Yaa Konadu Adiyiah, the Ashanti Regional Nutrition Officer, said series of events have been scheduled to take place in various communities across the district, with the inclusion of the Community Information Centres as well as the traditional media to support healthcare broadcast.
She indicated that although the celebration was a week-long activity, but it would be extended to cover the month of May, due to the importance on child health.
She said the celebration helped enhance coverage of child health services, while a defaulter identification system helped reach more children for care, adding that, healthcare professionals in the district deserve commendation for their hard work and dedication towards the course.
Maame Yaa Konadu said home visits were being strictly upheld by the various health facilities, which helped trace and boost up child health services including routine immunization.
She outlined the benefits of breastfeeding newborn babies and admonished mothers to responsibly breastfeed their babies to boost their nutritional values as the grow up.
In her address, she called on all mothers and caregivers to include the 4-star diet in the meals of babies during the feeding period from six months and beyond to better develop their growth and brain development. “Take the welfare of your newborn babies seriously and do not skip post-natal clinics till age five since they help in monitoring the child’s growth and development to detect and deal with any difficulties on time”, she added.
The nutritionist urged caregivers to invest all their attention, time and stay committed towards the future of these young ones through responsible feeding.
