From today (May 5) to Friday May 9th 2008, Ghanaian children under five years will benefit from free vitamin A supplementation and immunization against childhood diseases and receive re-treatment kits for bed nets at all health centres throughout the country.
Their growth will also be monitored through weighing, get health records cards and have their birth registered as part of activities to mark the "Child Health Promotion Week" (CHP), instituted by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in 2004.
This year's week is under the theme"Healthy Eating; A key to Child Growth and Development" and has the slogan "You Are What You Eat."
The Ghana Demographic and Health Survey of 2003 puts neonatal mortality ratio at 43 per 1000 live births, infant mortality (before one year) at 64 per 1000 live births and under five mortality at 111 per 1000 live births.
Malnutrition is said to be the underlying cause of all diseases associated with under five mortality, as diarrhoea accounts for 17% and malaria 25%.
The Upper East, Northern and Volta regions have worst indicators of malnutrition among children aged 0-59 months.
Dr. Elias K. Sory, Director General of the GHS said among the major objectives of the CHP is to reduce under five morbidity and mortality and increase awareness and coverage of interventions.
He said the celebration will highlight good nutritional habits to address malnutrition and its related conditions.
'As we aim at a middle-level income country the people must be healthy. The Child Health Week is therefore to educate the citizenry on the need to work together to ensure that our children who are the backbone to development are safe," he stated.
Speaking at a forum in Accra, Dr. Antwi Agyei, Programme Manager, EPI, reiterated the need to give the child only breast milk from birth to six months and afterwards continue with breastfeeding along with a variety of foods.
"Breastfeeding for two years or longer helps children develop and grow strong and healthy. Complete child's immunization before one year and ensure that children sleep under insecticide treated bed net every night," he urged.
He added that the best hygiene practise should be employed when preparing food or feeding children while too much oil and sugary foods are avoided.
The Deputy Director of Public Health , Nutrition, Jacob Armah who made a presentation on complementary feeding (giving family foods that the rest of the family eat and drink in addition to breastfeeding when the child is six months old or more), disclosed that in Ghana the practise is sub-optimal and leads to growth faltering in infant and young children.
Starting complementary foods too early in place of breast milk could result in low nutrient diet and increase the risk of illness.
Starting too late may also result in the child not receiving required nutrients, slows child growth and development as well as risk causing deficiencies and malnutrition.
Mr. Armah said complementary food for children from six to twenty-four months should start with small amounts of food while the quantity and variety is increased as the child gets older.
However, he said frequent breastfeeding should be maintained. "Average healthy breastfed infant need three meals per day at six to nine months, four per day at nine to eleven months and five meals at twelve to twenty-four months. Nutritious snacks such as koose, doughnut, kulikuli, maasa and fruit juices should be offered one to two times per day,' he elaborated.
He urged men particularly to help feed infant and young children while encouraging them to eat with a lot of patience.
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