Accra, May 30, GNA- Mrs. Veronica Gomez, Head of Breast Feeding Programme of the Ghana Health Service(GHS), on Sunday asked all porters (Kaya Yei) to register for the National Health Insurance Scheme to cover their health problems.

She said the scheme has facilitated the treatment of over 95 per cent of the country's disease conditions since its creation. Mrs. Gomez was speaking at this month's health promotion programme on the theme: "Child Survival", organized for porters in and around the Mallam Attah market in Accra.

The programme was instituted by GHS to educate porters on childcare and hygiene.

The porters were counselled on child survival issues, screened and treated for illness such as malaria, upper respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea.

In an interview with Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Gomez noted that the best protection a mother can give to a child is exclusive breast feeding for six months adding; this protects children against diarrhoea, common colds and pneumonia.

She added that there was the need to give to the child other supplements and medicine such as milk, water, gripe water and cod liver oil after six months unless advised otherwise by a doctor or nurse. She said exclusive breast feeding creates love and special bond between the mother and baby, adding it can help in delaying pregnancy. Mrs. Gomez urged the porters to keep themselves and their environs clean to prevent diseases.

Mrs. Rebecca Ackwonu, Public Relations Officer, called on the government for financial support since the programme is facing financial difficulties to attend to all the porters.