Fight to end maternal and child mortality starts with knowledge on nutrition – THP Country Director

The Country Director of The Hunger Project-Ghana, (THP Ghana) Mr. Samuel Erasmus has stated that Ghana can only intensify the fight to end maternal and child mortality if government and other concerned parties will be committed to protect, promote and support appropriate infant and young child feeding policy.

The Country Director was speaking at the opening of a Five-day workshop aimed at equipping Community Health Nurses and Project Officers(THP-Ghana) with the requisite skills, knowledge and tools to support mothers, fathers and other caregivers to optimally feed their infants and young children Community Infant and Young Child Feeding (CIYCF).

The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding was endorsed by all World Health Organization (WHO) Member States in 2002 and provides the main framework for WHO’s actions to promote exclusive breastfeeding (from 0 to 6 months babies) and complementary feeding.

It also addresses feeding of children living in special circumstances, such as those of low birth weight or who are born to mothers who are HIV-infected.

The Strategy specifies responsibilities for all concerned parties including governments, international agencies, civil society and the private sector.

The Planning Guide proposes a systematic process to translate the Global Strategy into country action. It describes seven steps to plan, implement and monitor actions to attain the nine operational targets defined in the Global Strategy.

The Guide is intended for use by programme managers and coordinators to develop focused national strategies, policies and action plans for infant and young child feeding.

The Hunger Project-Ghana under its Maternal and Child Health Care Improvement Project targeted at reducing maternal and child mortality & morbidity percentages has commenced series of training workshops to train participants as the country continues to fight the canker.

Delivering the opening address, the Country Director of THP Ghana, Mr. Samuel Afrane indicated that the fight to end maternal and child mortality will be won, if relevance is given to knowledge and skills on the recommended breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices for children from 0 up to 24 months.

He tasked parents especially farmers to feed their families with the best of their harvest after cultivating and also urged participants to help mothers and fathers especially in the rural areas on the subject.

Fifteen (15) Community Health Nurses working in 15 epicentre clinics in rural Ghana and 10 THP-Ghana’s Project Officers who are supervising the activities of THP Ghana at their various epicentres will benefit from this week-long workshop.