By
Anthony Apubeo, GNA
Sanabisi (UE), Oct. 4, GNA – The Integrated
Youth Needs and Welfare (INTYON), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has
held durbars in 58 communities in the Bongo District to promote exclusive
breastfeeding and discourage cultural practices that affect Mother and Child
Health (MCH).
The initiative, under the Mother Baby Friendly
Health Initiative (MBFHI) Project, has financial support from Bill and Melinda
Foundation, another NGO and the separate durbars brought together chiefs, women
groups, husbands and their wives, health workers, Assembly members, opinion
leaders and the youth.
Some of the communities that hosted the
durbars included the Sanabisi, Zorko Kadare, Zorko Kanga, Azorko-bisisi,
Adaboya, Lembisi, Akanseinga, Azuwobgo, Amanga.
The INTYON in partnership with the Ghana
Health Service (GHS) has been implementing the project in 100 communities in
the District for some time now and is expected to end this year.
It empowers the communities to employ
advocacy, drama and focus group discussions to ensure increased demand for
ante-natal and post-natal services, early initiation to breast feeding within
30 minutes after birth, exclusive breastfeeding and promoting basic new-born
care.
The community durbars provided platforms for
some selected members in the communities who acted dramas after focus group
discussions, emphasising the need to promote skilful delivery in the health
facilities instead of allowing pregnant women to deliver at homes and cared for
by non-health professionals.
The dramas and focus group discussions
depicted how important it was for men to accompany their pregnant wives to
deliver at health facilities instead of allowing them to visit health
facilities alone for delivery.
Naba Nyab Abugre, the Chief of Sanabisi, who
chaired one of the occasions on Saturday at the Sanabisi community, said it was
high time communities abandoned outmoded and harmful cultural practices which
were very detrimental to the health of mothers and children.
“At this 21st century there are no
excuses now for a woman to be allowed to give birth at home as more facilities
are now closer to our communities.
“Many pregnant women who give birth at home
often experience a lot of health complications which could even lead to the
death of either the mother or the baby.
“There is therefore the urgent need for men to
be encouraged to support and accompany pregnant women to the health facilities
to deliver as depicted in the drama by the community members,” the chief
stressed.
Nma Agebase Akurigo, the Queen Mother of Sanabisi,
attributed the failure of many men accompanying their pregnant wives to deliver
at health facilities to stigmatization by some community members.
“The only challenge is that most men do not
accompany women to the health facilities. Some are shy and always complain that
their colleague men will tease them should they see them with their wives going
to the health facility.
“This is affecting most pregnant women in
labour as the mother-in-laws are the only ones who often accompany them to the health facilities to
deliver and that is why some end up giving birth on the way or even at home,”
the Queen Mother explained.
She further called on pregnant women to
politely encourage their husbands to follow them to the health facilities to
deliver and stressed that it takes time for a change to happen.
Chief Issah Ibrahim, the Executive Director of
INTYON, commended the various Chiefs and Queen Mothers, Assembly members and
staff of the GHS for their active involvement in the implementation of the
project and advocated for continuous support to ensure sustainability of the
project.
The Executive Director attributed the high
ante-natal and post-natal visits of women to health facilities in the District
to the interventions of the project and indicated that there had also been
significant reduction in maternal and infant deaths in the area.
GNA