Child survival programme inaugurated
Compassion International Ghana (CIG), a child focused and Christian centered organisation, has inaugurated a child survival programme (CSP) at Apeguso in the Eastern Region to help reduce maternal and child mortality in the area.
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The programme would also offer a holistic approach to ensure that children below the age of three survive during their early years.
Under the initiative, mothers would be educated on various health programmes including nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, healthy sanitation practices, child development education, parenting skills, safe motherhood principles and timely access to basic medicines for malaria and pneumonia.
These are all aimed at promoting a better living standard for pregnant women and teenage mothers.
The CSP, which was introduced by the organisation in October 2012, had been implemented in five regions: Central, Volta, Eastern, Ashanti and the Greater Accra.
Since 2012, a total of 439 women have benefitted from the initiative.
APEGUSO
Speaking during a short ceremony to inaugurate the CSP, the Training Manager of CIG, Mrs Patience Antonio, said the initiative, which would be operated by the Yilo-Krobo Assemblies of God Church, was a collaboration with the church to reach out to pregnant women and vulnerable children.
She said the children would also benefit from a course which would focus on immunisation, oral dehydration, growth monitoring, functional literacy and breastfeeding.
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She added, “CIG seeks to provide nutrition, medical assistance, parental education and support mothers to ensure that their children survive in their early years.” She also stated that Compassion was working with 219 local churches that reached out to over 57,600 needy children in the country.
Mrs Antonio noted that malnutrition was a cause of death of children below five years and that most maternal and neonatal death could be prevented through such interventions.
Commenting on the organisation’s decision to introduce CSP at Apeguso, she said a baseline survey conducted by CIG in 2013 on the community revealed an increase in teenage pregnancy, hence their decision to institute the programme there.
She pledged the organisation’s commitment to promoting the welfare of children and called on stakeholders to support the cause.