Ghana Health Service in partnership with UNICEF has implemented a project known as Mother-Baby Health Facility Initiative.
The Project is currently been piloted in three countries which include Tanzania, Bangladesh, and Ghana.
In Ghana, the project is been piloted in four districts of the Upper East Region including Bongo District, Bolgatanga Municipality, Bawku Municipality and Kasina-Nankana West District.
The Mother-Baby Health Facility Initiative basically seeks to address maternal and new born health issues to ensure that maternal and new lethal mortalities are reduced drastically in the Region.
Speaking to a1radioonline.com at the Breast Feeding Code Dissemination and Advocacy meeting which was under the theme; protecting breastfeeding for a brighter future, UNICEF Health and Nutrition Specialist at the Tamale office, Prosper Dakurah said Ghana has a code on marketing of breast milk substitutes and it is legislative instrument 1667 which came into force in the year 2000.
He, however, noted that unfortunately, most practitioners and the public are not aware of provision the particular regulation.
“So today, we took the opportunity to disseminate the content so that people will know what the code is all about because the ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Most people are selling, most people are marketing, advertising and distributing breast milk substitute which is a violation of the law and of course, it is a threat to the God-given act of breastfeeding and as part of this project we are promoting breastfeeding at the various stages of life.”
Mr. Dakurah indicated that after delivery, a woman is supposed to do what is described as early initiation within the first 30 minutes to 1hour of birth but unfortunately, because of this substitute that is widely available, some woman ought to go in for breast milk substitute which is very unfortunate.
He, however, advised women to always breastfeed their children exclusively for 6months after delivery because research has shown that exclusive breastfeeding is the best solution for a healthy life for our children.
By: Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen/a1radioonline.com/Ghana
