ER observes Child Health Promotion Week

The Eastern Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has launched the Eleventh Child Health Promotion Week celebration at Asuboi, in the Ayensuano District.

As part of the promotion, all the District Health Directorates in the region will intensify the delivery of integrated child survival services, which include vitamin A supplementation, immunization, child growth monitoring, distribution of insecticide treated-nets for children under five years and birth registration for all children under one year at all health facilities.

This year's theme for the child health promotion week is, "I am a new born, keep me clean, help me live."

Mrs Margaret Adufu, Eastern Regional Public Health Nurse who launched the week, charged all mothers, especially those who recently delivered to make the survival of their babies be their utmost concern.

He said the first month of birth was much important and must be taken serious by mothers to reduce the number of new born deaths so that Ghana would not lose potential leaders for development.

Mrs Adufu lauded the child health promotion week, saying that there was the need to create awareness to get mothers to access health services at public health centres.

She said due to the promotion activities during the week, the country had recorded reduction in the morbidity of under five year olds from 80 to 60 per 1,000 births, and therefore, advocated for the high commitment of non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations to create more awareness on child survival.

Mrs Eunice Sackey, National Coordinator for Breastfeeding of the GHS, admonished mothers to endeavour to send their children for weighing until they reached five years, to enable the children to take their Vitamin A supplement till age five.

She urged parents to observe hygienic practices to control infections by always washing their hands with soap and clean water before handling or feeding babies.