Kunkua babies look healthy - US Ambassador

Kunkua (UE/R), Aug 24, GNA - Ninety-seven per cent of mothers at Kunkua and its neighbouring communities in the Bongo District, have adopted exclusive breastfeeding.

Speaking at Kunkua on Friday, the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Mary Yates, noted that, babies in the area looked very healthy and strong.

"I can see that the children look very healthy, and this would give the mothers peace of mind to do other things to help themselves and be able to send their children to school," she added.

Mrs. Yates was on a tour of the Upper East Region to assess the progress of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored projects.

The US envoy was speaking at the Kunkua Food Assistant Child Survival (FACS) Centre where mothers are assisted with nutritious foods to enable them breastfeed their babies well.

She commended the workers and the mothers for taking good care of the children and urged them to keep it up.

The FACS programme being undertaken in other parts of the region is aimed at improving the nutritional status of children by promoting exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and timely and adequate complementary feeding.

Mrs. Agnes Atayila, Senior Nutrition Officer in-charge of the Centre, said the women were given antenatal care during pregnancy, educated on child care and the need for special attention for babies. She said 300 women are guided in the preparation of nutritious dishes with dawadawa and soya bean.

The Chief of Kunkua, Naba Ayamdo Awaaba, thanked USAID for the assistance and said it had been helpful to the community. He said the programme had helped the community through the provision of a clinic, food support, and bicycles for volunteers, radio cassette players and created awareness of various health issues.