Takoradi, April 22, GNA - This year's National Child Health Promotion Week would be launched at Takoradi on Thursday, April 30. Mr Winfred Wunu, Western Regional Nutrition Officer of Ghana Health Service (GHS) who announced this on Wednesday said it would be under the theme "Follow Your Child's Growth-Use Your Child Health Records". Addressing a press conference at Takoradi, Mr Wunu said the week celebrated in the second week of May every year, was instituted by GHS in 2004 to improve service delivery and coverage of children under five years.

Mr Wunu who represented the Western Regional Director of Health Services said during the week-long celebration existing child health services would be advocated in the Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts.

He explained that the launch would be followed with service delivery in all health facilities from May 4-8 and key services to be offered would include immunisation, Vitamin "A" Supplementation, distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN), growth promotion and birth registration.

Mr Wunu said Vitamin "A" Supplementation was intended to ensure strong and healthy children from six months to five years, and children were expected to be immunised at least five times before they attain a year, while ITNs should be re-treated every six months. He advised parents and children to sleep under ITNs and regularly weigh their children from birth to five years. Mr Wunu announced that management of GHS had introduced new child health records cards with information on the new treatment for malaria, other interventions and World Health Organisation (WHO) new growth chart for children.

The growth chart was designed after WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study undertaken in selected countries including Ghana. 22 April 09