Kumasi,(Ashanti Region) 23, Sept. The Ashanti Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) plan to have two hospitals in the region designated as ”Baby Friendly” as part of their 1998 programme of action. Dr (Mrs) Mercy Essel-Ahun, Senior Medical Officer in charge of Public Health, named Mampong Hospital and the Manhyia Polyclinic as the targeted ”Baby friendly” hospitals. She was speaking on the ”Goals, Achievement and Future Plans for
Breastfeeding Programme in Ashanti region” at the launching of Breastfeeding campaign in Ashanti today on the theme ”Breastfeeding Nature’s Way”. The two hospitals have been given self-assessment forms to determine hospital practices in relation to breastfeeding as a baseline survey. Dr (Mrs) Essel-Ahun, Coordinator of the Breastfeeding programme, said meetings have been held with the management of Manhyia Polyclinic. The training of 40 staff will start by the end of this month for Manhyia while training for Mampong Hospital will start early next year. She said both hospitals would initiate mother support groups in their communities to encourage mothers to be breastfeeding their children even after their discharge from the hospitals. ”Our target is that all health workers will support and encourage mothers through pregnancy and the pre-natal period into adulthood,” she said.
