Story: Salome Donkor
THE 2008 African Report of Child Well-being, has rated Ghana 29th in terms of the country’s efforts to improve child well-being.
Prepared by The African Child Policy Forum (ACPF), an independent, Pan- African policy and advocacy centre based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the report reviews and compares the performance of 52 African governments using a common set of indicators and an innovative Child-friendliness Index developed by ACPF.
The report that scores and ranks the performance of African governments in terms of their efforts to improve child well-being, is prepared every two years and the current one was launched on 20 November 2008 in Nairobi and Amsterdam. The report was made possible through the financial support of International Child Support (ICS) and Plan International.
Ghana is among countries like Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Gabon, Mozambique, Togo, Zambia, Mauritania, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger that were categorised as fairly Child Friendly Countries.
The most Child Friendly Countries include Mauritius, Namibia, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria and Cape Verde.
According to the report, a child-friendly government is “one that is making the maximum effort to meet its obligations to respect, protect and fulfil child rights and ensure child well-being.”
Dr Assefa Bequele, Executive Director of ACPF, in a statement said African Governments had an impressive record in their formal accession to the relevant child-focused international treaties. But the extent of their commitment to children’s issues varies widely, and the gap between promises and reality remains wide in many countries.
Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, former Foreign Minister of Tanzania and a three-term former Secretary General of Organisation of African Union (OAU) now African Union, in a statement said “we are convinced that the report is a significant contribution to public policy. It is an African report on African children by an African organisation”. In another statement, Professor Jaap Doek, former Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, adds that “This is a meticulously researched and evidence - based report, and the first of its kind on the subject in the region.”
A statement issued by Mr Bright Appiah, Executive Director of Child’s Rights International, a Ghanaian child’s rights organisation, said the extent to which government respected children and protected them from harm and abuse, and provided them with opportunities for a healthy and productive life had an impact both on the future of the children concerned and the future of the country.
It added that a healthy, well-fed and educated child population was necessary to build a foundation for productive and knowledge-based economy that could make the people participate effectively in today’s globalised world.
“Similarly, the way we raise and treat our children at home and at school is critical for what they will be as adults and citizens. A child growing up in an environment where he sees his mother being beaten by the father, where girls are discriminated against and excluded, where differing views and opinions are not tolerated, and where choices are not negotiated contribute to chaos and democratic disorder” it said.
The statement made reference to the fact that Ghana was the first country in the world to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and urged the government to lay down the appropriate legal and policy frameworks that must be reflected in the laws, policies on government’s commitment to child protection
It said the most Child Friendly countries earned that rating because they put in place appropriate legal provisions to protect children against abuse and exploitation; they also allocated a relatively higher share of their budgets to provide for the basic needs of children and their resources were effectively used and the results reflected in the children themselves.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
MOWAC advised to reprioritise its activities - To provide skills training
Story: Salome Donkor
THE Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Children has advised the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) to reprioritise its activities in order to provide skills training for women’s groups under the ministry’s budget allocation for 2010.
The committee stated that in reviewing the performance of MOWAC in 2009, it realised that no skills training and economic support was provided for women’s groups, adding, “The committee considers this situation as unfortunate, since other activities of the ministry were undertaken to the detriment of the economic empowerment of women groups.”
This was contained in the committee’s report on the 2010 annual budget estimates of the MOWAC that was presented to Parliament on Friday by the Chairman of the committee, Mr Sampson Ahi.
It said providing skills training and economic support for women’s groups was a means of empowering women financially and thereby accelerating the socio-economic development of the country.
The committee appealed to the government to adequately resource MOWAC to enable it to deliver on its mandate. It also urged the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning not to relent in its efforts at ensuring that promises made in the budget statement were fulfilled.
It indicated that in view of government’s commitment to the empowerment of women, particularly the vulnerable, the rural and urban poor, as well as facilitating the survival, protection and development of the Ghanaian child, MOWAC’s budgetary allocation, compared to the national budget, had been below 1.0 per cent over the years.
It stated that for 2010, the budgetary requirement of MOWAC was GH¢5,344,336 but that amount had been slashed to GH¢4,139,59.
It indicated that the concept of gender was cross-cutting and inextricably linked to development, adding that if Ghana was to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, the government must demonstrate its commitment towards gender equality, the promise of empowering women, as well as the protection and development of children by allocating resources to MOWAC in future budget estimates.
The committee noted with concern the over reliance on donor funds for the programmes and activities of MOWAC and indicated, for instance, that in 2008, MOWAC was to benefit from donor funds to the tune of GH¢570,479.
It said the ministry’s projection for 2009 was GH¢6,768,571, out of which only GH¢1,752,092.94 had been released to MOWAC as of November ending.
It said in 2010, donor funds allocated to MOWAC was GH¢4,371,404, noting that although that amount had been slashed compared to the approved amount for 2009, it represented 53.62 per cent of the total budgetary allocation made to the ministry.
The committee noted that the situation was not a healthy development, since any delays or problems encountered in accessing those funds would disrupt the service and investment programmes of the ministry, thereby impacting negatively on its performance.
It also touched on the need to provide an office space for MOWAC and its departments and urged the sector minister to ensure that the construction of an office complex to accommodate the staff and the secretariats of the ministry commenced in 2010, since MOWAC had land demarcated for an office complex.
The report also touched on the outlook of the ministry for 2010 and said MOWAC would continue to collaborate with stakeholders, organisations and development partners to collectively address women’s reproductive health, infant and maternal mortality, child trafficking, child labour, streetism, irregular migration and other issues of national concern to women and children.
The ministry would also review the National Gender and Children’s Policy and ensure the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) policy document was engendered to cater for the needs of women and children in the project areas and particularly to halt the irregular migration of young women and other youth from the northern to the southern parts of the country.
THE Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Children has advised the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) to reprioritise its activities in order to provide skills training for women’s groups under the ministry’s budget allocation for 2010.
The committee stated that in reviewing the performance of MOWAC in 2009, it realised that no skills training and economic support was provided for women’s groups, adding, “The committee considers this situation as unfortunate, since other activities of the ministry were undertaken to the detriment of the economic empowerment of women groups.”
This was contained in the committee’s report on the 2010 annual budget estimates of the MOWAC that was presented to Parliament on Friday by the Chairman of the committee, Mr Sampson Ahi.
It said providing skills training and economic support for women’s groups was a means of empowering women financially and thereby accelerating the socio-economic development of the country.
The committee appealed to the government to adequately resource MOWAC to enable it to deliver on its mandate. It also urged the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning not to relent in its efforts at ensuring that promises made in the budget statement were fulfilled.
It indicated that in view of government’s commitment to the empowerment of women, particularly the vulnerable, the rural and urban poor, as well as facilitating the survival, protection and development of the Ghanaian child, MOWAC’s budgetary allocation, compared to the national budget, had been below 1.0 per cent over the years.
It stated that for 2010, the budgetary requirement of MOWAC was GH¢5,344,336 but that amount had been slashed to GH¢4,139,59.
It indicated that the concept of gender was cross-cutting and inextricably linked to development, adding that if Ghana was to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, the government must demonstrate its commitment towards gender equality, the promise of empowering women, as well as the protection and development of children by allocating resources to MOWAC in future budget estimates.
The committee noted with concern the over reliance on donor funds for the programmes and activities of MOWAC and indicated, for instance, that in 2008, MOWAC was to benefit from donor funds to the tune of GH¢570,479.
It said the ministry’s projection for 2009 was GH¢6,768,571, out of which only GH¢1,752,092.94 had been released to MOWAC as of November ending.
It said in 2010, donor funds allocated to MOWAC was GH¢4,371,404, noting that although that amount had been slashed compared to the approved amount for 2009, it represented 53.62 per cent of the total budgetary allocation made to the ministry.
The committee noted that the situation was not a healthy development, since any delays or problems encountered in accessing those funds would disrupt the service and investment programmes of the ministry, thereby impacting negatively on its performance.
It also touched on the need to provide an office space for MOWAC and its departments and urged the sector minister to ensure that the construction of an office complex to accommodate the staff and the secretariats of the ministry commenced in 2010, since MOWAC had land demarcated for an office complex.
The report also touched on the outlook of the ministry for 2010 and said MOWAC would continue to collaborate with stakeholders, organisations and development partners to collectively address women’s reproductive health, infant and maternal mortality, child trafficking, child labour, streetism, irregular migration and other issues of national concern to women and children.
The ministry would also review the National Gender and Children’s Policy and ensure the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) policy document was engendered to cater for the needs of women and children in the project areas and particularly to halt the irregular migration of young women and other youth from the northern to the southern parts of the country.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Stand up to violence against women
Article: Salome Donkor
ON December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly, by Resolution 54/134, designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and invited governments, international organisations and NGOs to organise activities designated to raise public awareness of the problem on that day.
Before that, women's activists had, since 1981, marked November 25 as a day against violence. November 25, 1960 marked the brutal assassination of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on the orders of the Dominican ruler, Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).
According to Article 1 of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the term "violence against women" means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life
The Executive Director of The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Ms Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, in a message to mark the day, called on all to take a stand and say loud and clear, ‘No to violence against women’.
She indicated that every day, women and girls were subjected to domestic violence, exploitation, sexual violence, trafficking, harmful traditional practices such as bride burning and early marriages and other forms of violence against their bodies, minds and human dignity.
“As many as one in three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or abused in some other way,” she said, and called on the global community to come together to demand an end to the most pervasive, yet least reported, human rights abuse in the world in the 16 days leading up to Human Rights Day and every day.
She welcomed the leadership example exhibited by what she termed “a new network of men leaders, led by the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, as part of the United Nations UNite Campaign to end violence against girls and women” and lauded the commitment to actively engage men and boys in the cause to end impunity, promote justice and human rights and end widespread violence against girls and women.
She said whether they were policy makers, community or religious leaders, fathers or husbands, uncles, brothers or young boys, they could all do their part to eliminate all forms of violence against women.
The Executive Director also welcomed the recent Security Council resolutions 1888 and 1889 that strengthened accountability to women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations, adding that by condemning sexual violence, calling for a stronger role for women in peace building and mandating peacekeeping missions to protect women and girls, the resolutions signalled a political commitment to address sexual violence as a peace and security issue.
In a statement to mark the day read on the floor of Ghana’s Parliament, the MP for Savelugu and Chairperson of the Women Caucus in Parliament, Madam Mary Salifu Boforo, said in most cases, violence against women went unreported because majority of the victims were afraid to lose their marital status, while some were ignorant of their rights.
She noted that some harmful attitudes against women were reinforced by certain religious and other community leaders who exhorted women to stand by their husbands in all circumstances, while at the same time failing to take a clear stand against wife battery and marital rape.
A number of challenges and negative practices continue to affect the development of women in Africa and other parts of the world. Problems impeding their ability to expand their capabilities, how to attain their full freedom and dignity and how to promote and sustain empowerment programmes are some of the inequalities confronting African women in their daily lives.
In a report on violence against women in Ghana, the UN Division for the Advancement of Women indicated that widowhood rites included confining the widow to a room, shaving her head, having her wear a rope around her neck and making her go through a ritual bath.
In some African countries, women still lack access to economic rights and land ownership, ability to influence reproductive and family development such as who to marry, how many children to have and their spacing.
The Network of Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), a coalition of organisations and individuals advocating for gender equity, which made an assessment on issues of concern to women in Africa in 2008, has established that discriminatory practices against women in the name of culture still prevails in Africa, while increasing efforts are being made to address them.
All segments of society must, therefore, unite for the dignity and well-being of women and girls, for now is the time to build a society based on respect for fundamental human rights and the equal rights of men and women.
ON December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly, by Resolution 54/134, designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and invited governments, international organisations and NGOs to organise activities designated to raise public awareness of the problem on that day.
Before that, women's activists had, since 1981, marked November 25 as a day against violence. November 25, 1960 marked the brutal assassination of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on the orders of the Dominican ruler, Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).
According to Article 1 of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the term "violence against women" means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life
The Executive Director of The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Ms Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, in a message to mark the day, called on all to take a stand and say loud and clear, ‘No to violence against women’.
She indicated that every day, women and girls were subjected to domestic violence, exploitation, sexual violence, trafficking, harmful traditional practices such as bride burning and early marriages and other forms of violence against their bodies, minds and human dignity.
“As many as one in three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or abused in some other way,” she said, and called on the global community to come together to demand an end to the most pervasive, yet least reported, human rights abuse in the world in the 16 days leading up to Human Rights Day and every day.
She welcomed the leadership example exhibited by what she termed “a new network of men leaders, led by the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, as part of the United Nations UNite Campaign to end violence against girls and women” and lauded the commitment to actively engage men and boys in the cause to end impunity, promote justice and human rights and end widespread violence against girls and women.
She said whether they were policy makers, community or religious leaders, fathers or husbands, uncles, brothers or young boys, they could all do their part to eliminate all forms of violence against women.
The Executive Director also welcomed the recent Security Council resolutions 1888 and 1889 that strengthened accountability to women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations, adding that by condemning sexual violence, calling for a stronger role for women in peace building and mandating peacekeeping missions to protect women and girls, the resolutions signalled a political commitment to address sexual violence as a peace and security issue.
In a statement to mark the day read on the floor of Ghana’s Parliament, the MP for Savelugu and Chairperson of the Women Caucus in Parliament, Madam Mary Salifu Boforo, said in most cases, violence against women went unreported because majority of the victims were afraid to lose their marital status, while some were ignorant of their rights.
She noted that some harmful attitudes against women were reinforced by certain religious and other community leaders who exhorted women to stand by their husbands in all circumstances, while at the same time failing to take a clear stand against wife battery and marital rape.
A number of challenges and negative practices continue to affect the development of women in Africa and other parts of the world. Problems impeding their ability to expand their capabilities, how to attain their full freedom and dignity and how to promote and sustain empowerment programmes are some of the inequalities confronting African women in their daily lives.
In a report on violence against women in Ghana, the UN Division for the Advancement of Women indicated that widowhood rites included confining the widow to a room, shaving her head, having her wear a rope around her neck and making her go through a ritual bath.
In some African countries, women still lack access to economic rights and land ownership, ability to influence reproductive and family development such as who to marry, how many children to have and their spacing.
The Network of Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), a coalition of organisations and individuals advocating for gender equity, which made an assessment on issues of concern to women in Africa in 2008, has established that discriminatory practices against women in the name of culture still prevails in Africa, while increasing efforts are being made to address them.
All segments of society must, therefore, unite for the dignity and well-being of women and girls, for now is the time to build a society based on respect for fundamental human rights and the equal rights of men and women.
Be part of the ‘Know Your HIV Status Campaign’
Article: Salome Donkor
Comments and reactions by some people to issues relating to HIV and AIDS tend to show that they have rather become fatigued with stories on the global pandemic. There are times when people feel reports on the pandemic have become sterile.
To such people, the same story relating to education on the prevention of HIV and AIDS that highlights basic information about the A, B and C (Abstinence, Be faithful and use a Condom) of HIV and AIDS has been told over and over again.
Contrary to that perception, interactions by a group of journalists with persons living with HIV (PLHIV) during a three-day writing clinic organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Koforidua recently showed that a lot more stories needed to be heard on the epidemic in the country.
The story was told of a young woman who met a would-be partner who had travelled from Europe into the country to get married to her.
The would-be couple took a bold decision and decided to check their HIV status. Before they could go to collect the results of the test, they engaged in unprotected sex and the results proved that the man was positive, while the woman was negative.
Since she had been exposed to the virus through unprotected sex, the woman immediately made her problem known to doctors who put her on anti-retroviral therapy for one month.
Subsequent tests on the woman showed that she had not been infected with the virus.
She was lucky.
There was the pathetic story of another woman whose marriage broke up and after staying single for some years, met a man who married her.
She and her new husband did not go for HIV anti-body test to know their status and three years after their marriage, the man died, while their one-year-old baby fell seriously ill.
Tests conducted on the child showed that she had been infected with HIV. Based on the results, the woman also went for the test and the results proved positive.
One women also described the trauma she went through as a result of stigmatisation by members of her community and close family members. She said because of her HIV positive status that became known to the people following the death of her husband, no hairdresser is prepared to do her hair, as a result of which she wears a wig.
These stories narrated by the PLHIV, provided a compelling description of the context of HIV transmission in Ghana, the extent of fear, misconception, myths and stigmatisation against persons infected and affected with the virus.
These pose a great challenge to the national response to HIV and AIDS with reference to counselling and testing services. These challenges also create gaps in the attainment of universal access target, which is defined as being as close as possible to providing sustainable and quality HIV services that will lead to prevention, as well as offering counselling and support and access to care for all in need by 2010.
In spite of the fact that the annual rate of infection had reduced from 3.6 per cent in 2003 to 1.7 per cent in 2008, HIV is still a problem in Ghana, considering the fact that currently there are an estimated 240,802 HIV positive cases in Ghana, as against 236,151 in 2008.
Majority of the infections in the country, nearly 90 per cent, are within the age group of 15-49 years, with 58 per cent of infected people being women and girls.
Less than 10 per cent of Ghanaians know their HIV status and the aim of this year’s World AIDS Day, which fell on December 1, is to embark on activities that encourage people to buy into the ‘Know Your HIV Status campaign’ being undertaken nation-wide by the Ministry of Health, while emphasising human rights issues which impact on HIV and AIDS.
Currently, heterosexual sex remains the predominant mode of transmission, accounting for 75-80 per cent of all infections. Mother-to-child transmission and transmission through blood and blood products account for 15 per cent and five per cent, respectively.
Other consequences of the burden of the epidemic can be seen in the number of AIDS orphans and adult deaths in the population. In 2000, it was estimated that AIDS accounted for about 12 per cent of all deaths in Ghana, while about 140,000 children had been orphaned as a result of AIDS.
Except for the screening of donated blood and patients with symptoms suggestive of AIDS, routine testing for HIV and AIDS shall not be carried out and testing shall not be done without the knowledge of the subject.
Stigma and discrimination have greatly affected the response to HIV and AIDS. This is because while only 10 per cent of the global population knew their HIV status, in Ghana, it was eight per cent.
This means that a lot more people do not know their status and are likely to be living with the virus but will not know they have it, while a number of those who know their status and are in need of anti-retroviral treatment have refused to go for treatment because of the fear of stigmatisation and discrimination.
Records indicate that about 70,000 people infected with the virus need ARV, but because the knowledge gap is depreciating, resulting in stigmatisation and discrimination and consequent misinformation on transmission and misconception that tend to relate the spread of the virus to superstition, promiscuity and other factors, such people resort to spiritualists for support, while others take herbal concoctions that worsen their conditions.
One important submission made by the Director of Technical Services of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), Dr Richard Amenyah, in his presentation and subsequent explanation to issues, was quite revealing and convincing.
He said there was the need for every individual to know his or her HIV status and keep it. This means that people who are now entering marital relationships will know the status of their would-be partners, while those in casual relationships and do not know the status of their partners will make efforts to check their status and practise safe sex.
People who also participate in social activities and strike new acquaintances that could make them engage in unprotected sex need to be wary of the epidemic and appreciate the fact that such behaviour puts them at risk of contracting the virus.
Ghana’s goal is to prevent new HIV infections, as well as mitigate the socio-economic and psychological effects of HIV and AIDS on individuals, communities and the nation. The first national strategic plan focused on five themes: Prevention of new infections; care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS; the creation of an enabling environment for a national response; decentralisation of implementation of HIV and AIDS activities through institutional arrangements; research and monitoring and evaluation of programmes.
The second national strategic plan, currently in process, focuses on: Policy, advocacy and enabling environment; co-ordination and management of the decentralised response; mitigating the economic, socio-cultural and legal impacts; prevention and behaviour change communication; treatment, care and support; research and surveillance and monitoring and evaluation.
This require increased resources, working towards the elimination of stigmatisation, enhanced access to affordable medicines, a reduction in vulnerability of persons affected by HIV and AIDS, particularly orphans, children infected with the virus and the aged.
There is the need to deal with low risk perception, especially among the youth, due to misconception and lack of adequate in-depth knowledge about HIV through the dissemination of information to reduce high risk behaviour and personal risk exposures, stigma reduction, increasing ART therapy to help PLHIVs manage the disease and prolong their life span.
There is the need to utilise HIV prevention services and promote safer sexual practices in the general population, especially among young men and women aged 15-49.
Comments and reactions by some people to issues relating to HIV and AIDS tend to show that they have rather become fatigued with stories on the global pandemic. There are times when people feel reports on the pandemic have become sterile.
To such people, the same story relating to education on the prevention of HIV and AIDS that highlights basic information about the A, B and C (Abstinence, Be faithful and use a Condom) of HIV and AIDS has been told over and over again.
Contrary to that perception, interactions by a group of journalists with persons living with HIV (PLHIV) during a three-day writing clinic organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Koforidua recently showed that a lot more stories needed to be heard on the epidemic in the country.
The story was told of a young woman who met a would-be partner who had travelled from Europe into the country to get married to her.
The would-be couple took a bold decision and decided to check their HIV status. Before they could go to collect the results of the test, they engaged in unprotected sex and the results proved that the man was positive, while the woman was negative.
Since she had been exposed to the virus through unprotected sex, the woman immediately made her problem known to doctors who put her on anti-retroviral therapy for one month.
Subsequent tests on the woman showed that she had not been infected with the virus.
She was lucky.
There was the pathetic story of another woman whose marriage broke up and after staying single for some years, met a man who married her.
She and her new husband did not go for HIV anti-body test to know their status and three years after their marriage, the man died, while their one-year-old baby fell seriously ill.
Tests conducted on the child showed that she had been infected with HIV. Based on the results, the woman also went for the test and the results proved positive.
One women also described the trauma she went through as a result of stigmatisation by members of her community and close family members. She said because of her HIV positive status that became known to the people following the death of her husband, no hairdresser is prepared to do her hair, as a result of which she wears a wig.
These stories narrated by the PLHIV, provided a compelling description of the context of HIV transmission in Ghana, the extent of fear, misconception, myths and stigmatisation against persons infected and affected with the virus.
These pose a great challenge to the national response to HIV and AIDS with reference to counselling and testing services. These challenges also create gaps in the attainment of universal access target, which is defined as being as close as possible to providing sustainable and quality HIV services that will lead to prevention, as well as offering counselling and support and access to care for all in need by 2010.
In spite of the fact that the annual rate of infection had reduced from 3.6 per cent in 2003 to 1.7 per cent in 2008, HIV is still a problem in Ghana, considering the fact that currently there are an estimated 240,802 HIV positive cases in Ghana, as against 236,151 in 2008.
Majority of the infections in the country, nearly 90 per cent, are within the age group of 15-49 years, with 58 per cent of infected people being women and girls.
Less than 10 per cent of Ghanaians know their HIV status and the aim of this year’s World AIDS Day, which fell on December 1, is to embark on activities that encourage people to buy into the ‘Know Your HIV Status campaign’ being undertaken nation-wide by the Ministry of Health, while emphasising human rights issues which impact on HIV and AIDS.
Currently, heterosexual sex remains the predominant mode of transmission, accounting for 75-80 per cent of all infections. Mother-to-child transmission and transmission through blood and blood products account for 15 per cent and five per cent, respectively.
Other consequences of the burden of the epidemic can be seen in the number of AIDS orphans and adult deaths in the population. In 2000, it was estimated that AIDS accounted for about 12 per cent of all deaths in Ghana, while about 140,000 children had been orphaned as a result of AIDS.
Except for the screening of donated blood and patients with symptoms suggestive of AIDS, routine testing for HIV and AIDS shall not be carried out and testing shall not be done without the knowledge of the subject.
Stigma and discrimination have greatly affected the response to HIV and AIDS. This is because while only 10 per cent of the global population knew their HIV status, in Ghana, it was eight per cent.
This means that a lot more people do not know their status and are likely to be living with the virus but will not know they have it, while a number of those who know their status and are in need of anti-retroviral treatment have refused to go for treatment because of the fear of stigmatisation and discrimination.
Records indicate that about 70,000 people infected with the virus need ARV, but because the knowledge gap is depreciating, resulting in stigmatisation and discrimination and consequent misinformation on transmission and misconception that tend to relate the spread of the virus to superstition, promiscuity and other factors, such people resort to spiritualists for support, while others take herbal concoctions that worsen their conditions.
One important submission made by the Director of Technical Services of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), Dr Richard Amenyah, in his presentation and subsequent explanation to issues, was quite revealing and convincing.
He said there was the need for every individual to know his or her HIV status and keep it. This means that people who are now entering marital relationships will know the status of their would-be partners, while those in casual relationships and do not know the status of their partners will make efforts to check their status and practise safe sex.
People who also participate in social activities and strike new acquaintances that could make them engage in unprotected sex need to be wary of the epidemic and appreciate the fact that such behaviour puts them at risk of contracting the virus.
Ghana’s goal is to prevent new HIV infections, as well as mitigate the socio-economic and psychological effects of HIV and AIDS on individuals, communities and the nation. The first national strategic plan focused on five themes: Prevention of new infections; care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS; the creation of an enabling environment for a national response; decentralisation of implementation of HIV and AIDS activities through institutional arrangements; research and monitoring and evaluation of programmes.
The second national strategic plan, currently in process, focuses on: Policy, advocacy and enabling environment; co-ordination and management of the decentralised response; mitigating the economic, socio-cultural and legal impacts; prevention and behaviour change communication; treatment, care and support; research and surveillance and monitoring and evaluation.
This require increased resources, working towards the elimination of stigmatisation, enhanced access to affordable medicines, a reduction in vulnerability of persons affected by HIV and AIDS, particularly orphans, children infected with the virus and the aged.
There is the need to deal with low risk perception, especially among the youth, due to misconception and lack of adequate in-depth knowledge about HIV through the dissemination of information to reduce high risk behaviour and personal risk exposures, stigma reduction, increasing ART therapy to help PLHIVs manage the disease and prolong their life span.
There is the need to utilise HIV prevention services and promote safer sexual practices in the general population, especially among young men and women aged 15-49.
Monday, November 23, 2009
‘EWEC summit provides good experience’
Article: Salome Donkor
Participants at this year’s two-day summit organised by the Eagle Women’s Empowerment Club (EWEC) in Accra had a good and fulfilling experience, as well as a leaning and impacting process that will lead to a greater commitment to help empower African women.
Some of the participants had varied expectations and hoped to be enlightened on the opportunities available to them to give them easy access to loans that would enable them to expand , set up new businesses or climb the corporate ladder.
Others expected to be exposed to innovative ways of doing businesses to enable them to venture into more challenging areas, while some participants also expected to share ideas on business policies that impact positively on their companies and improve their lives.
The Principal of New Business Division of the Ghana Export Promotions Council (GIPC), Mr Isaac Okine, offered a lot of information for the participants in this respect and encouraged them to invest in such areas as power and gas, agriculture, the financial services, tourism, information technology, manufacturing and industries.
He allayed the fears of the women and told them that unlike the negative perception that people, especially women, had about doing business in the country, there were flexible conditions such as tax rebates which included a corporate tax rebate of eight per cent on export income for non-traditional exports; 22 per cent for hotels and 25 per cent for all other activities.
The summit was organised under the auspices of Eagle Productions Limited in collaboration with Africa Business Women’s Network (ABWN), in Accra. It was held on the theme "Synchronising Global Business- A New Orientation for The African Woman".
It brought together women entrepreneurs from Ghana and other West African countries who shared ideas on issues relating to high interest rates and other economic barriers that prevented small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) from flourishing.
Ms Josephine Hayford of Hay Looks Unisex Fashion With Pride deals in embroidery, Buobuo, Agbada, Kalftan, Kente and Asokey, was among a number of exhibitors at the summit.
She said with her natural “Beauty by Design Concept”, she won the Best Young Entrepreneur of the Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs between 1997 to 2003, adding that her sense of style, which is key to her continuing strides and achievements in the sector, made her the best producer of elegant, gorgeous and stunning African wears for all ages, women, men and children.
Ms Jennifer Nwachukwu of Designer’s Choice, whose organisation, located on the Spintex Road in Accra, designs hats, beads and headgear and markets lace materials, shoes, bags and perfumes, expressed optimism that the summit would open new doors for the organisation.
A fashion designer, Ms Doris Owusu Ampomah of Leorus Collection, who markets formal, evening and bridal wear, as well as embroidery designs and interior decorations, spoke about the role of small-scale enterprises in national development , said they needed financial support to expand their businesses.
The President of EWEC, Ms Juliet Asante, said there was the need to encourage women to build their skills and develop their potential in support of the nation’s growth and advancement since they constituted more than half of the nation’s population.
Participants at this year’s two-day summit organised by the Eagle Women’s Empowerment Club (EWEC) in Accra had a good and fulfilling experience, as well as a leaning and impacting process that will lead to a greater commitment to help empower African women.
Some of the participants had varied expectations and hoped to be enlightened on the opportunities available to them to give them easy access to loans that would enable them to expand , set up new businesses or climb the corporate ladder.
Others expected to be exposed to innovative ways of doing businesses to enable them to venture into more challenging areas, while some participants also expected to share ideas on business policies that impact positively on their companies and improve their lives.
The Principal of New Business Division of the Ghana Export Promotions Council (GIPC), Mr Isaac Okine, offered a lot of information for the participants in this respect and encouraged them to invest in such areas as power and gas, agriculture, the financial services, tourism, information technology, manufacturing and industries.
He allayed the fears of the women and told them that unlike the negative perception that people, especially women, had about doing business in the country, there were flexible conditions such as tax rebates which included a corporate tax rebate of eight per cent on export income for non-traditional exports; 22 per cent for hotels and 25 per cent for all other activities.
The summit was organised under the auspices of Eagle Productions Limited in collaboration with Africa Business Women’s Network (ABWN), in Accra. It was held on the theme "Synchronising Global Business- A New Orientation for The African Woman".
It brought together women entrepreneurs from Ghana and other West African countries who shared ideas on issues relating to high interest rates and other economic barriers that prevented small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) from flourishing.
Ms Josephine Hayford of Hay Looks Unisex Fashion With Pride deals in embroidery, Buobuo, Agbada, Kalftan, Kente and Asokey, was among a number of exhibitors at the summit.
She said with her natural “Beauty by Design Concept”, she won the Best Young Entrepreneur of the Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs between 1997 to 2003, adding that her sense of style, which is key to her continuing strides and achievements in the sector, made her the best producer of elegant, gorgeous and stunning African wears for all ages, women, men and children.
Ms Jennifer Nwachukwu of Designer’s Choice, whose organisation, located on the Spintex Road in Accra, designs hats, beads and headgear and markets lace materials, shoes, bags and perfumes, expressed optimism that the summit would open new doors for the organisation.
A fashion designer, Ms Doris Owusu Ampomah of Leorus Collection, who markets formal, evening and bridal wear, as well as embroidery designs and interior decorations, spoke about the role of small-scale enterprises in national development , said they needed financial support to expand their businesses.
The President of EWEC, Ms Juliet Asante, said there was the need to encourage women to build their skills and develop their potential in support of the nation’s growth and advancement since they constituted more than half of the nation’s population.
Women’s involvement in ‘galamsey’ - Causes and effects
Article: Salome Donkor
It would be difficult to find words to console the grief-stricken families of the victims of the mining tragedy that hit Dompuase, near Wassa Akropong, in the Western Region.The accident, described as one of the biggest mining tragedies in the country, claimed 18 lives, including that of 14 women, who were buried alive when a landslide struck while they were working in a mining pit last Tuesday.
The deceased were said to be part of a team of about 30 people working in the pit. The accident left one survivor who is also a woman.
While sympathsing with the bereaved families and extending our condolences to them, it is equally important to continue to talk about the accident to collate views from the public on how to resolve the problem and to impress on those in authority to make mining laws effective.
A statement made on the tragedy by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Amenfi East, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, in whose constituency the accident occured, indicated that the women went into the mining pit to carry gold-bearing limestone as a means of livelihood.
According to the MP, almost all the deceased women were single parents who were catering for between two to five children.
It also said two of the women were breastfeeding mothers who always carried their babies strapped to their backs as they worked in the pit but the babies were saved on that fateful day as their mothers decided to leave them in the care of others.
The tragedy brought to the fore the need for state institutions to monitor and control the work of artisanal miners and force them to comply with safety measures.
It also showed the anxiety and determination of rural poor women to make ends meet, though through the most hazardous way.
‘Galamsey’, which is the corrupt version of the phrase, “gather and sell”, is a form of small-scale mining that takes place without official approval. It is carried out openly and often the operators get into confrontation with the law agencies and do not care where the precious mineral must be gathered and sold.
According to Mr Aidoo, the business has one of the largest following in the country in terms of work force and ancillary activities, and those engaged in the bisuness often encroach on the mining concessions.
He said there were over 5,000 people directly involved in the business in the Amenfi East Constituency, while there was an estimated 20,000 people involved in the business in Prestea, with a number of people also in Tarkwa Nsauem, Telekubukazo, Mpohor, Sefwi Juaboso, Bibiani, Obuasi, Konongo, Wa, Bole and wherever gold is.
A survivor in the Dompuase accident was reported to have stated that the pit owner contracted six men and 24 women who entered the pit for the day’s galamsey business and those engaged in the operation did so with simple implements such as shovels, pans, bamboo sticks and even their bare hands, in some cases.
The menial and risky jobs that involve stone digging, crashing, grinding, washing and carrying, mostly invloved children aged between eight and 17 years, who are recruited into galamsey operations, instead of being in school or under some apprenticeship for skills and trade.
As the Dompuase galamsey tragedy was discussed in the media, contributors to the discussions tried to assign reasons for the circumstances that compel women in their prime age and children to desperately dare to engage in such a deadly venture. Some said it was out of desperation for job, hence the need for the government to promote and co-ordinate policies that will enhance the well-being of women and children. Others also attributed the issue to parental neglect and irresponsibility on the part of fathers.
Clearly, the phenomenon of galamsey is a multi-faceted issue that requires a multi-sectoral attention and these concerns seem to have been addressed by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, when he delivered the government's Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the 2010 Fiscal Year that was presented to Parliament on Wednesday.
The minister outlined measures aimed at achieving the government’s objective of promoting women empowerment through the delivery of social programmes targeted at poverty reduction, and indicated that GH¢ 103.8 million is to be allocated to reduce poverty in the country.
He said the amount, which is the government’s projection of the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) spending for 2010, is to help improve on the financial ability of the poor in the country, most of whom are women and children.
The minister contended that the initiative and other poverty relief initiatives formed part of the government’s policies to protect especially, the vulnerable, rural and urban poor, as well as facilitate the survival, protection and development of the Ghanaian child.
He mentioned other initiatives as the Livelihood Empowerment Programme (LEAP) which he said was going to be allocated with GH¢12 million, the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority programme which will be allocated with GH¢25 million, rural electrification, GH¢30 million and the National Youth Employment Programme, which will benefit from a GH¢15 million package.
To sum up the words of Mr Aidoo, looking for gold or diamonds should not become the only preoccupation of the youth and as he suggested, the enabling conditions should be created to present new but equally lucrative opportunities for the youth and unemployed women.
After announcing these poverty alleviation initives, the next step is to ensure that these initiatives do not remain on paper but effectively implemented to benefit the people.
Furthermore, the call by Mr Aidoo for the strengthening of the country’s mining laws to encourage the use of machinery and equipment in the small-scale mining sector is also valid since it was through such a situation that one could make it impracticable for the use of child labour and eliminate all forms of women labour in unprotected mining pits.
It is obvious that the galamsey phenomenon cannot be eliminated but the work of artisanal miners could be monitored and controlled by state institutions.
It would be difficult to find words to console the grief-stricken families of the victims of the mining tragedy that hit Dompuase, near Wassa Akropong, in the Western Region.The accident, described as one of the biggest mining tragedies in the country, claimed 18 lives, including that of 14 women, who were buried alive when a landslide struck while they were working in a mining pit last Tuesday.
The deceased were said to be part of a team of about 30 people working in the pit. The accident left one survivor who is also a woman.
While sympathsing with the bereaved families and extending our condolences to them, it is equally important to continue to talk about the accident to collate views from the public on how to resolve the problem and to impress on those in authority to make mining laws effective.
A statement made on the tragedy by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Amenfi East, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, in whose constituency the accident occured, indicated that the women went into the mining pit to carry gold-bearing limestone as a means of livelihood.
According to the MP, almost all the deceased women were single parents who were catering for between two to five children.
It also said two of the women were breastfeeding mothers who always carried their babies strapped to their backs as they worked in the pit but the babies were saved on that fateful day as their mothers decided to leave them in the care of others.
The tragedy brought to the fore the need for state institutions to monitor and control the work of artisanal miners and force them to comply with safety measures.
It also showed the anxiety and determination of rural poor women to make ends meet, though through the most hazardous way.
‘Galamsey’, which is the corrupt version of the phrase, “gather and sell”, is a form of small-scale mining that takes place without official approval. It is carried out openly and often the operators get into confrontation with the law agencies and do not care where the precious mineral must be gathered and sold.
According to Mr Aidoo, the business has one of the largest following in the country in terms of work force and ancillary activities, and those engaged in the bisuness often encroach on the mining concessions.
He said there were over 5,000 people directly involved in the business in the Amenfi East Constituency, while there was an estimated 20,000 people involved in the business in Prestea, with a number of people also in Tarkwa Nsauem, Telekubukazo, Mpohor, Sefwi Juaboso, Bibiani, Obuasi, Konongo, Wa, Bole and wherever gold is.
A survivor in the Dompuase accident was reported to have stated that the pit owner contracted six men and 24 women who entered the pit for the day’s galamsey business and those engaged in the operation did so with simple implements such as shovels, pans, bamboo sticks and even their bare hands, in some cases.
The menial and risky jobs that involve stone digging, crashing, grinding, washing and carrying, mostly invloved children aged between eight and 17 years, who are recruited into galamsey operations, instead of being in school or under some apprenticeship for skills and trade.
As the Dompuase galamsey tragedy was discussed in the media, contributors to the discussions tried to assign reasons for the circumstances that compel women in their prime age and children to desperately dare to engage in such a deadly venture. Some said it was out of desperation for job, hence the need for the government to promote and co-ordinate policies that will enhance the well-being of women and children. Others also attributed the issue to parental neglect and irresponsibility on the part of fathers.
Clearly, the phenomenon of galamsey is a multi-faceted issue that requires a multi-sectoral attention and these concerns seem to have been addressed by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, when he delivered the government's Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the 2010 Fiscal Year that was presented to Parliament on Wednesday.
The minister outlined measures aimed at achieving the government’s objective of promoting women empowerment through the delivery of social programmes targeted at poverty reduction, and indicated that GH¢ 103.8 million is to be allocated to reduce poverty in the country.
He said the amount, which is the government’s projection of the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) spending for 2010, is to help improve on the financial ability of the poor in the country, most of whom are women and children.
The minister contended that the initiative and other poverty relief initiatives formed part of the government’s policies to protect especially, the vulnerable, rural and urban poor, as well as facilitate the survival, protection and development of the Ghanaian child.
He mentioned other initiatives as the Livelihood Empowerment Programme (LEAP) which he said was going to be allocated with GH¢12 million, the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority programme which will be allocated with GH¢25 million, rural electrification, GH¢30 million and the National Youth Employment Programme, which will benefit from a GH¢15 million package.
To sum up the words of Mr Aidoo, looking for gold or diamonds should not become the only preoccupation of the youth and as he suggested, the enabling conditions should be created to present new but equally lucrative opportunities for the youth and unemployed women.
After announcing these poverty alleviation initives, the next step is to ensure that these initiatives do not remain on paper but effectively implemented to benefit the people.
Furthermore, the call by Mr Aidoo for the strengthening of the country’s mining laws to encourage the use of machinery and equipment in the small-scale mining sector is also valid since it was through such a situation that one could make it impracticable for the use of child labour and eliminate all forms of women labour in unprotected mining pits.
It is obvious that the galamsey phenomenon cannot be eliminated but the work of artisanal miners could be monitored and controlled by state institutions.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Childhood mortality rates differ in rural, urban areas - Says 2008 GDHS
Story: Salome Donkor
The 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) has established that childhood mortality rates in the country differ by residence. According to the survey, the under-five mortality rate for the 10-year period before the survey in urban areas is 75 per 1,000 live births compared to 90 per 1,000 live births in rural areas.
The report however indicated that childhood mortality is decreasing in Ghana. Currently, 50 children per 1,000 live births die before their first birthday. It gave the breakdown as 30 per 1,000 live births, before the age of one month and 21 per 1,000 between one and 12 months.
These figures, according to the survey, showed dramatic decreases over the 20-year period since the 1988 GDHS. The report indicated that under five mortality rate in the country per 1,000 live births was 155 in 1988, which decreased to 119 in 1993, then decreased further to 108 in 1998 and increased to 111 in 2003.
In respect of infant mortality rates, the figures for the country per 1,000 live births during the same period were, 77 in 1988, 66 in 1993, 57 in 1998, 64 in 2003 and 50 in 2008.
Various reasons are attributed to the decrease in infant and under five mortality rates. According to the survey, spacing children, at least 24 months apart, reduces risk of infant death, indicating that, in Ghana, the median birth interval is 40 months. However, about 1 in 7 (14 per cent) infants in Ghana, are born less than two years after a previous birth.
Infants born less than two years after a previous birth have particularly high infant mortality rates (131 deaths per 1,000 live births) compared with 58 for infants born four years after the previous birth).
The GDHS also said almost all Ghanaian women (95 per cent) receive some antenatal care from skilled provider, most commonly from a nurse or midwife (63 per cent) and a doctor (24 per cent), adding that more than three-quarters of women had the recommended four or more antenatal visits, and 55 per cent of women had an antenatal care visit by their fourth month of pregnancy, as recommended.
Accessing antenatal and postnatal care enabled more women to take iron tablets or syrup and intestinal parasite drugs during their last pregnancy before the survey. Women who received antenatal care during their most recent births were informed of the signs of the complications of pregnancy, and were also protected against neonatal tetanus.
The survey indicated that over the past two decades, vaccination coverage had increased from 47 per cent in 1988 to 79 per cent in 2008. It said 79 per cent of Ghanaian children, aged 12 - 23 months, received all recommended vaccines (one dose of BCG and measles and three doses each of DPT and polio) at any time prior to the survey.
The report said during the two weeks before the survey, 1 in 5 Ghanaian children under five had diarrhoea, adding that the rate was highest (33 per cent) among children aged 12 - 23 months, and advised mothers to give children who had diarrhoea more fluids, particularly oral rehydration salts (ORS) since the survey established that the majority of mothers (90 per cent) know about ORS packets.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children receive nothing but breast milk (exclusive breastfeeding) for the first six months of life. Infants should not be given juices, other milks or complementary foods until six months of age, yet 17 per cent of Ghanaian infants under six months receive complementary foods.
To reduce the risk of malnutrition, the survey recommends that complementary foods should be introduced when a child is six months old, in addition to breastfeeding.
The Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices recommend that children aged between 6 and 8 months should be fed from three or more food groups at least twice a day in addition to breastfeeding, and for children aged between 9 to 23, at least three times a day.
The GDHS, which also included haemoglobin testing for women aged 15 to 49 and children 6-59 months, established that more than three-quarters of children (78 per cent) have some form of anaemia.
It said anaemia among children was higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and decreased as mother’s education and wealth increase, adding that almost 9 in 10 children in the Upper East and Upper West regions are anaemic.
The 2008 GDHS was designed to provide data for monitoring the population and health situation in the country and has brought to the fore information that can guide policy formulation, implementation and evaluation.
The objective of the survey was to provide up-to-date information on fertility, family planning, childhood mortality, nutrition, maternal and child health, domestic violence and related knowledge and behaviour on HIV and AIDS.
The 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) has established that childhood mortality rates in the country differ by residence. According to the survey, the under-five mortality rate for the 10-year period before the survey in urban areas is 75 per 1,000 live births compared to 90 per 1,000 live births in rural areas.
The report however indicated that childhood mortality is decreasing in Ghana. Currently, 50 children per 1,000 live births die before their first birthday. It gave the breakdown as 30 per 1,000 live births, before the age of one month and 21 per 1,000 between one and 12 months.
These figures, according to the survey, showed dramatic decreases over the 20-year period since the 1988 GDHS. The report indicated that under five mortality rate in the country per 1,000 live births was 155 in 1988, which decreased to 119 in 1993, then decreased further to 108 in 1998 and increased to 111 in 2003.
In respect of infant mortality rates, the figures for the country per 1,000 live births during the same period were, 77 in 1988, 66 in 1993, 57 in 1998, 64 in 2003 and 50 in 2008.
Various reasons are attributed to the decrease in infant and under five mortality rates. According to the survey, spacing children, at least 24 months apart, reduces risk of infant death, indicating that, in Ghana, the median birth interval is 40 months. However, about 1 in 7 (14 per cent) infants in Ghana, are born less than two years after a previous birth.
Infants born less than two years after a previous birth have particularly high infant mortality rates (131 deaths per 1,000 live births) compared with 58 for infants born four years after the previous birth).
The GDHS also said almost all Ghanaian women (95 per cent) receive some antenatal care from skilled provider, most commonly from a nurse or midwife (63 per cent) and a doctor (24 per cent), adding that more than three-quarters of women had the recommended four or more antenatal visits, and 55 per cent of women had an antenatal care visit by their fourth month of pregnancy, as recommended.
Accessing antenatal and postnatal care enabled more women to take iron tablets or syrup and intestinal parasite drugs during their last pregnancy before the survey. Women who received antenatal care during their most recent births were informed of the signs of the complications of pregnancy, and were also protected against neonatal tetanus.
The survey indicated that over the past two decades, vaccination coverage had increased from 47 per cent in 1988 to 79 per cent in 2008. It said 79 per cent of Ghanaian children, aged 12 - 23 months, received all recommended vaccines (one dose of BCG and measles and three doses each of DPT and polio) at any time prior to the survey.
The report said during the two weeks before the survey, 1 in 5 Ghanaian children under five had diarrhoea, adding that the rate was highest (33 per cent) among children aged 12 - 23 months, and advised mothers to give children who had diarrhoea more fluids, particularly oral rehydration salts (ORS) since the survey established that the majority of mothers (90 per cent) know about ORS packets.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children receive nothing but breast milk (exclusive breastfeeding) for the first six months of life. Infants should not be given juices, other milks or complementary foods until six months of age, yet 17 per cent of Ghanaian infants under six months receive complementary foods.
To reduce the risk of malnutrition, the survey recommends that complementary foods should be introduced when a child is six months old, in addition to breastfeeding.
The Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices recommend that children aged between 6 and 8 months should be fed from three or more food groups at least twice a day in addition to breastfeeding, and for children aged between 9 to 23, at least three times a day.
The GDHS, which also included haemoglobin testing for women aged 15 to 49 and children 6-59 months, established that more than three-quarters of children (78 per cent) have some form of anaemia.
It said anaemia among children was higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and decreased as mother’s education and wealth increase, adding that almost 9 in 10 children in the Upper East and Upper West regions are anaemic.
The 2008 GDHS was designed to provide data for monitoring the population and health situation in the country and has brought to the fore information that can guide policy formulation, implementation and evaluation.
The objective of the survey was to provide up-to-date information on fertility, family planning, childhood mortality, nutrition, maternal and child health, domestic violence and related knowledge and behaviour on HIV and AIDS.
Monday, September 28, 2009
How Nkrumah empowered Ghanaian women
Article: Salome Donkor
THE role of women in politics and other public offices is one of the burning governance issues, largely because of the perceived and acknowledged potential and contribution of women to governance.
A recent study by Dr Beatrix Allah-Mensah of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, on Women in Politics and Public Life indicated that there was ample evidence to substantiate the indispensable role women played in the prelude to independence and immediately after it.
The study revealed that the role of women was evident in the support they gave to the main political party of the time, the Convention People’s Party (CPP), and it is also on record that women traders were keen supporters of the CPP government and also offered financial assistance and supportive services.
Soon after the formation of the CPP in 1949, for instance, some of them, notably Akua Asabea, stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts like Kofi Baako and Sacki Scheck as they toured the country and addressed large rallies to spread the message of ‘Independence Now’ for Ghana.
Hanna Cudjoe, for instance, did not only heroically rally the people behind the independent struggle, but also went a step ahead in establishing day care centres and day nurseries.
She worked extensively in the northern Ghana under the direction of Dr Nkrumah, who gave her the task of convincing women in certain parts of northern Ghana to discard some outmoded culture in the area .
During the early period of the struggle in May 1951, the CPP appointed Hanna Cudjoe, Ama Nkrumah, Letitia Quaye and Sophia Doku as propaganda secretaries with the responsibility of organising the CPP Women’s League.
Under the league, the women were divided into subsections at branch and ward levels. They organised rallies, dances and picnics as strategies to mobilise more people for early independence delayed by the colonialists for about a century.
Hanna Cudjoe was the Head of the Ghana Women’s League, and in 1960, the Women’s League and the Ghana Federation of Women, led by Evelyn Amarteifio, were merged to form the National Council of Ghana Women (NCGW) to replace the women’s section of the CPP.
The women’s movement was inaugurated by Dr Nkrumah on September 10, 1960 as the only organisation under which all Ghanaian women were to be organised to help achieve government post-independent political, social, economic and educational development of Ghana. The party leadership, therefore, institutionalised the initiative by making constitutional provisions for women’s league at the branch and ward levels as the main organising framework for women in the party. It was, therefore, not surprising that the party gave credit to women for the internal solidarity, cohesion and success of the CPP.
Mention could also be made of the role of Dr Mrs Letitia Obeng, an educationist, and other women who were nurses, broadcasters, judges and lawyers, who became part and parcel of the independence struggle.
Though not very visible like their male counterparts in the frontline, the female politicians, nonetheless, provided a vanguard force, rallying their families, communities, trade and various interest groups to join the struggle for national independence.
Allah-Mensah’s writing on ‘Women and politics in Ghana, 1993-2003’, cited in a book titled “One Decade of the Liberal State”, and edited by Kwame Boafo-Arthur (2007), states that the action was largely responsible for the development of the women’s wing of the party and also for the youth organisation. She records that women were efficient organisers who could bring thousands of people together for a rally at very short notice.
Indeed, it is noted that the NCGW and other groups were systematically and strategically co-opted into the CPP and given party membership cards as the only valid membership cards.
A paper written by Ms Joyce Rosalind Aryee, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, on the “Contributions of Women to Ghana’s Independence and Democratic Governance”, dated March 2007 and quoted in the study by Dr Allah-Mensah, pointed out that Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s political success was based on the foundation set for women by the CPP.
It said in 1949, many benevolent and mutual associations, credit unions and market women’s voluntary groups sprang up and became staunch supporters of Dr Nkrumah and the CPP in general. It said those associations, though were not at the forefront of the independence struggle, were involved in activities which were politically significant.
The contribution of women to the political struggle caught the eyes of the leadership of the CPP and by May 1951, the party had appointed four women, namely Letitia Quaye, Miss Sophia Doku, Hannah Cudjoe and Ama Nkrumah as propaganda secretaries charged with the duty of organising women.
In spite of the role of women in the political struggle, there was no woman in Cabinet when Ghana attained republican status, but the contribution of women to Ghanaian politics after independence, resulting in the introduction of the Representation of the People (Women Members) Bill in 1960. The bill was passed and it received the Governor-general’s assent on June 16, 1960.
Through that act, 10 women were elected unopposed as Members of Parliament (MPs) in June 1960. They were Susana Al-Hassan, Ayanori Bukari and Victoria Nyarko, all representing the Northern Region, Sophia Doku and Mary Koranteng, Eastern Region and Regina Asamany, Volta Region.
The rest were Grace Ayensu and Christiana Wilmot, Western Region, Comfort Asamoah, Ashanti Region, and Lucy Anim, Brong Ahafo. That made Ghana one of the first African countries to introduce a quota system for women.
In 1965, Dr Nkrumah appointed Madam Susan Al-Hassan as the Minister of Social Welfare and Community Development, while others were appointed as district commissioners.
Over the past five decades after Ghana’s independence, the representation of women in local and national level politics, as well as in other areas of decision-making indicate that there was still much more to be done to ensure an effective representation of women in politics and other equally important sectors.
THE role of women in politics and other public offices is one of the burning governance issues, largely because of the perceived and acknowledged potential and contribution of women to governance.
A recent study by Dr Beatrix Allah-Mensah of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, on Women in Politics and Public Life indicated that there was ample evidence to substantiate the indispensable role women played in the prelude to independence and immediately after it.
The study revealed that the role of women was evident in the support they gave to the main political party of the time, the Convention People’s Party (CPP), and it is also on record that women traders were keen supporters of the CPP government and also offered financial assistance and supportive services.
Soon after the formation of the CPP in 1949, for instance, some of them, notably Akua Asabea, stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts like Kofi Baako and Sacki Scheck as they toured the country and addressed large rallies to spread the message of ‘Independence Now’ for Ghana.
Hanna Cudjoe, for instance, did not only heroically rally the people behind the independent struggle, but also went a step ahead in establishing day care centres and day nurseries.
She worked extensively in the northern Ghana under the direction of Dr Nkrumah, who gave her the task of convincing women in certain parts of northern Ghana to discard some outmoded culture in the area .
During the early period of the struggle in May 1951, the CPP appointed Hanna Cudjoe, Ama Nkrumah, Letitia Quaye and Sophia Doku as propaganda secretaries with the responsibility of organising the CPP Women’s League.
Under the league, the women were divided into subsections at branch and ward levels. They organised rallies, dances and picnics as strategies to mobilise more people for early independence delayed by the colonialists for about a century.
Hanna Cudjoe was the Head of the Ghana Women’s League, and in 1960, the Women’s League and the Ghana Federation of Women, led by Evelyn Amarteifio, were merged to form the National Council of Ghana Women (NCGW) to replace the women’s section of the CPP.
The women’s movement was inaugurated by Dr Nkrumah on September 10, 1960 as the only organisation under which all Ghanaian women were to be organised to help achieve government post-independent political, social, economic and educational development of Ghana. The party leadership, therefore, institutionalised the initiative by making constitutional provisions for women’s league at the branch and ward levels as the main organising framework for women in the party. It was, therefore, not surprising that the party gave credit to women for the internal solidarity, cohesion and success of the CPP.
Mention could also be made of the role of Dr Mrs Letitia Obeng, an educationist, and other women who were nurses, broadcasters, judges and lawyers, who became part and parcel of the independence struggle.
Though not very visible like their male counterparts in the frontline, the female politicians, nonetheless, provided a vanguard force, rallying their families, communities, trade and various interest groups to join the struggle for national independence.
Allah-Mensah’s writing on ‘Women and politics in Ghana, 1993-2003’, cited in a book titled “One Decade of the Liberal State”, and edited by Kwame Boafo-Arthur (2007), states that the action was largely responsible for the development of the women’s wing of the party and also for the youth organisation. She records that women were efficient organisers who could bring thousands of people together for a rally at very short notice.
Indeed, it is noted that the NCGW and other groups were systematically and strategically co-opted into the CPP and given party membership cards as the only valid membership cards.
A paper written by Ms Joyce Rosalind Aryee, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, on the “Contributions of Women to Ghana’s Independence and Democratic Governance”, dated March 2007 and quoted in the study by Dr Allah-Mensah, pointed out that Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s political success was based on the foundation set for women by the CPP.
It said in 1949, many benevolent and mutual associations, credit unions and market women’s voluntary groups sprang up and became staunch supporters of Dr Nkrumah and the CPP in general. It said those associations, though were not at the forefront of the independence struggle, were involved in activities which were politically significant.
The contribution of women to the political struggle caught the eyes of the leadership of the CPP and by May 1951, the party had appointed four women, namely Letitia Quaye, Miss Sophia Doku, Hannah Cudjoe and Ama Nkrumah as propaganda secretaries charged with the duty of organising women.
In spite of the role of women in the political struggle, there was no woman in Cabinet when Ghana attained republican status, but the contribution of women to Ghanaian politics after independence, resulting in the introduction of the Representation of the People (Women Members) Bill in 1960. The bill was passed and it received the Governor-general’s assent on June 16, 1960.
Through that act, 10 women were elected unopposed as Members of Parliament (MPs) in June 1960. They were Susana Al-Hassan, Ayanori Bukari and Victoria Nyarko, all representing the Northern Region, Sophia Doku and Mary Koranteng, Eastern Region and Regina Asamany, Volta Region.
The rest were Grace Ayensu and Christiana Wilmot, Western Region, Comfort Asamoah, Ashanti Region, and Lucy Anim, Brong Ahafo. That made Ghana one of the first African countries to introduce a quota system for women.
In 1965, Dr Nkrumah appointed Madam Susan Al-Hassan as the Minister of Social Welfare and Community Development, while others were appointed as district commissioners.
Over the past five decades after Ghana’s independence, the representation of women in local and national level politics, as well as in other areas of decision-making indicate that there was still much more to be done to ensure an effective representation of women in politics and other equally important sectors.
Challenge to enforcement of domestic violence laws
Article: Salome Donkor
Countries that have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. By accepting the Convention, which was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, member states commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end all forms of discrimination against women.
These states are enjoined by the Convention to incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system, abolish all discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women; establish tribunals and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and to ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organisations or enterprises.
They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.
The Convention, often described as an international bill of rights for women consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.
It defines discrimination against women as "...Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field."
Ghana ratified CEDAW in 1986, and currently, 185 countries, constituting over ninety per cent of the members of the United Nations are party to the Convention. The latest country to append its signature is San Marino, on September 26, 2003, while Cook Islands assented the treaty on August 11, 2006.
The United States of America (USA) is among eight countries yet to ratify CEDAW, alongside Sudan, Somalia, Qatar, Iran, Nauru, Palau and Tonga.
States that have ratified the Convention are obligated to create laws that protect women on an equal basis with men, and to modify or abolish existing laws or customs that discriminate against women.
CEDAW is the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women, and targets culture and tradition as influential forces shaping gender roles and family relations. It affirms women's rights to acquire, change or retain their nationality and the nationality of their children. State parties also agree to take appropriate measures against all forms of traffic in women and their exploitation.
The Convention provides the basis for realising equality between women and men by ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in political and public life, including the right to vote and to stand for election, as well as education, health and employment.
Agencies of the state agree to take all appropriate measures, including legislation and temporary special measures, so that women can enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Despite the promising purposes of such statements, in reality the international convention that Ghana and other countries in the region have ratified have made little impact on a number of African countries.
According to Amnesty International, discrimination is the root cause of violence, and that impunity perpetuates violations and abuses. Violence against women is pervasive throughout the world. Approximately, one in three of the world’s women will experience violence at some point in their lives, with rates reaching 70 per cent in some countries.
Millions of women are abused each year, often in countries where they face discriminatory laws preventing them from seeking meaningful legal resource against such violence. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that globally, one woman in five will be a victim of rape or attempted rape during their lives. Within Africa, the estimate is one in three.
In Ghana, for example, bills that have clashed with cultural norms and religious beliefs have proven difficult to enforce. Individuals not widely in support of such laws may continue to deal with violence through traditional means, rather than turning to the protections of the law.
Numerous factors combine to limit women’s access to justice. Women’s lack of education about their legal rights may also inhibit some women from using laws once they are in place to protect them. For instance, a lack of access to formal education, limited legal literacy, and a lack of familiarity with the language of the courts may make court navigation difficult.
A research conducted by Action Aid Ghana, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and launched in 2007 to engender advocacy towards the implementation of the recommendations contained in the study on violence against women (VAW) in northern Ghana came up with certain revelations.
The study showed, among other things, that physical violence, denial of basic necessities, arbitrary dissolution of marriage, forced marriages and unnecessary reprimanding of women constituted acts of violence against women that were prevalent in northern Ghana.
The Network of Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), a coalition of organisations and individuals advocating gender equity, which made an assessment on issues of concern to women in Africa in 2008, established that discriminatory practices against women in the name of culture still prevailed in Africa with increasing efforts being made to address them.
A paper presented by Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, the NETRIGHT Convenor, during the organisation’s end-of-year event in Accra last year, indicated that an estimated three million girls a year are said to be at risk from the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and many of them are in Africa.
She indicated that within the Ghanaian context , stories published on women during the period featured a range of themes and more than half of all the stories were on women, politics and decision-making, with a specific focus on the 2008 elections.
According to Dr Mensah-Kutin, other stories could be located within the general themes of violence against women, women's health, beauty and entertainment, women and the economy, as well as discriminatory practices against women.
Ghana has incorporated the Convention’s provisions into the laws and practices of the country, resulting in the enactment of laws such as the Domestic Violence (DV) Act, 2000 (Act 732) Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), and provisions in the 1992 Constitution to reduce violence against women and other human rights abuses by reversing discrimination and providing equal protection before the law.
However, the reality of the situation is that significant challenges affect the enforcement of domestic violence laws. Reports from the police indicate that it is often difficult to collect medical evidence to support domestic violence cases in the country, since there are a few medical facilities in rural areas where many women live, and even urban facilities may have inadequate resources to collect medical evidence. Many victims may also be unable to afford expensive medical tests, even if they are available.
At its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Accra recently, the Society of Ghana Women Medical and Dental Practitioners (SGWMDP) urged the government, as a State Party to CEDAW, to ensure the full implementation of all the Provisions and General Recommendations of the Convention.
The association congratulated Ghanaian women, women of the world and the United Nations for the entering into force 30 years ago of CEDAW, and pledged its full support to the realisation of the aims and principles of the CEDAW.
By ratifying the Convention, Ghana has the obligation to protect certain groups and provide the special care and assistance required for the physical and mental well-being of women and children, among others.
Women rights advocates have recommended that the government should provide skills training and free medical care for women who are victims of violence, as well as provide logistics to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the police to strengthen their work.
They also suggest that non-governmental and civil society organisations should institute legal aid schemes to support victims of violence and also strengthen women’s pressure groups to fight for the rights of women.
Advocates must continue to engage in targeted outreach and education in order to ensure that communities understand and support the protections that domestic violence laws can provide so that victims can choose to make use of such laws.
Countries that have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. By accepting the Convention, which was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, member states commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end all forms of discrimination against women.
These states are enjoined by the Convention to incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system, abolish all discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women; establish tribunals and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and to ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organisations or enterprises.
They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.
The Convention, often described as an international bill of rights for women consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.
It defines discrimination against women as "...Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field."
Ghana ratified CEDAW in 1986, and currently, 185 countries, constituting over ninety per cent of the members of the United Nations are party to the Convention. The latest country to append its signature is San Marino, on September 26, 2003, while Cook Islands assented the treaty on August 11, 2006.
The United States of America (USA) is among eight countries yet to ratify CEDAW, alongside Sudan, Somalia, Qatar, Iran, Nauru, Palau and Tonga.
States that have ratified the Convention are obligated to create laws that protect women on an equal basis with men, and to modify or abolish existing laws or customs that discriminate against women.
CEDAW is the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women, and targets culture and tradition as influential forces shaping gender roles and family relations. It affirms women's rights to acquire, change or retain their nationality and the nationality of their children. State parties also agree to take appropriate measures against all forms of traffic in women and their exploitation.
The Convention provides the basis for realising equality between women and men by ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in political and public life, including the right to vote and to stand for election, as well as education, health and employment.
Agencies of the state agree to take all appropriate measures, including legislation and temporary special measures, so that women can enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Despite the promising purposes of such statements, in reality the international convention that Ghana and other countries in the region have ratified have made little impact on a number of African countries.
According to Amnesty International, discrimination is the root cause of violence, and that impunity perpetuates violations and abuses. Violence against women is pervasive throughout the world. Approximately, one in three of the world’s women will experience violence at some point in their lives, with rates reaching 70 per cent in some countries.
Millions of women are abused each year, often in countries where they face discriminatory laws preventing them from seeking meaningful legal resource against such violence. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that globally, one woman in five will be a victim of rape or attempted rape during their lives. Within Africa, the estimate is one in three.
In Ghana, for example, bills that have clashed with cultural norms and religious beliefs have proven difficult to enforce. Individuals not widely in support of such laws may continue to deal with violence through traditional means, rather than turning to the protections of the law.
Numerous factors combine to limit women’s access to justice. Women’s lack of education about their legal rights may also inhibit some women from using laws once they are in place to protect them. For instance, a lack of access to formal education, limited legal literacy, and a lack of familiarity with the language of the courts may make court navigation difficult.
A research conducted by Action Aid Ghana, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and launched in 2007 to engender advocacy towards the implementation of the recommendations contained in the study on violence against women (VAW) in northern Ghana came up with certain revelations.
The study showed, among other things, that physical violence, denial of basic necessities, arbitrary dissolution of marriage, forced marriages and unnecessary reprimanding of women constituted acts of violence against women that were prevalent in northern Ghana.
The Network of Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), a coalition of organisations and individuals advocating gender equity, which made an assessment on issues of concern to women in Africa in 2008, established that discriminatory practices against women in the name of culture still prevailed in Africa with increasing efforts being made to address them.
A paper presented by Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, the NETRIGHT Convenor, during the organisation’s end-of-year event in Accra last year, indicated that an estimated three million girls a year are said to be at risk from the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and many of them are in Africa.
She indicated that within the Ghanaian context , stories published on women during the period featured a range of themes and more than half of all the stories were on women, politics and decision-making, with a specific focus on the 2008 elections.
According to Dr Mensah-Kutin, other stories could be located within the general themes of violence against women, women's health, beauty and entertainment, women and the economy, as well as discriminatory practices against women.
Ghana has incorporated the Convention’s provisions into the laws and practices of the country, resulting in the enactment of laws such as the Domestic Violence (DV) Act, 2000 (Act 732) Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), and provisions in the 1992 Constitution to reduce violence against women and other human rights abuses by reversing discrimination and providing equal protection before the law.
However, the reality of the situation is that significant challenges affect the enforcement of domestic violence laws. Reports from the police indicate that it is often difficult to collect medical evidence to support domestic violence cases in the country, since there are a few medical facilities in rural areas where many women live, and even urban facilities may have inadequate resources to collect medical evidence. Many victims may also be unable to afford expensive medical tests, even if they are available.
At its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Accra recently, the Society of Ghana Women Medical and Dental Practitioners (SGWMDP) urged the government, as a State Party to CEDAW, to ensure the full implementation of all the Provisions and General Recommendations of the Convention.
The association congratulated Ghanaian women, women of the world and the United Nations for the entering into force 30 years ago of CEDAW, and pledged its full support to the realisation of the aims and principles of the CEDAW.
By ratifying the Convention, Ghana has the obligation to protect certain groups and provide the special care and assistance required for the physical and mental well-being of women and children, among others.
Women rights advocates have recommended that the government should provide skills training and free medical care for women who are victims of violence, as well as provide logistics to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the police to strengthen their work.
They also suggest that non-governmental and civil society organisations should institute legal aid schemes to support victims of violence and also strengthen women’s pressure groups to fight for the rights of women.
Advocates must continue to engage in targeted outreach and education in order to ensure that communities understand and support the protections that domestic violence laws can provide so that victims can choose to make use of such laws.
Business Women’s Summit opens in October
Article: Salome Donkor
THE United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), in its 2008 report on Progress of the World’s Women, says that gender bias has meant that “women have been more concentrated than men in informal, subsistence and ‘vulnerable’ employment”. According to the report, ‘vulnerable’ employment referred to self-employment and jobs without salaries in family-owned businesses.
Global reports indicate that women constitute more than half of the world’s population. However, the fact remains that advances have been limited in the economic realm and for poor women in particular, as a result of disadvantanges that are often entrenched in social institutions, economic policies and development strategies that have not adequately recognised the important role of women in economic development and poverty reduction, and as important agents of change.
According to the International labour Organisation (ILO) fewer than 1 in 5 working women in sub-Saharan Africa received regular wages or salaries, compared to a third of employed African men and almost 93 per cent of women in the developed countries.
Looking ahead to 2015 and beyond, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon observes that although it is possible to achieve the overarching goal of ending poverty by 2015, “it requires an unswerving, collective, long-term effort."
In this respect, greater global co-operation is required to resolve the current challenges confronting women, to enable them play their respective roles towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that relate to providing basic human rights to each person on the planet to, namely health, education, shelter, and security.
Concerned with how women, particularly Ghanaian women, can contribute to redesigning global systems and practises in the quest to create a better world, the Eagle Women Empowerment Club (EWEC), in collaboration with the African Business Women’s Network, is organising an international business women’s summit from October 21 - 22 at the National Theatre, in Accra.
The summit is being facilitated by Vital Voices, Exxon Mobil and Fortune 500 Companies, “Synchronising Global Business – A new orientation for the African woman”. Advocacy will also be around high interest rates in many African countries- a major threat to SMEs.
Participants include leading Fortune 500 women, representation from the World Economic Forum, government representatives, business women and women leaders in organisations from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Liberia, and other African countries.
Launched in 2008 as a networking platform for women, EWEC is the local chapter of the Africa Businesswomen’s Network (ABWN), an association of businesswomen’s organisation throughout Africa. ABWN is powered by Vital Voices, Exxon Mobil and supported by Fortune 500.
The goal of the club is to build a network of businesswomen’s organisation in Africa in order to expand the number of women suceeding as entrepreneurs and leaders in the corporate world; to raise the profile and credibility of women in business; to foster global networking opportunities among businesswomen; and to advocate policies that expand economic opportunities for women.
The President of EWEC, Ms Juliet Asante said the number of women performing roles as bread winners continued to increase every year, adding that research shows that women-led companies survived better than alternatives.
She said the back bone of every economy is its SMEs, and especially, in Africa, the majority of SMEs were owned or run by women and as a result, woman obviously had the main responsibility of the home.
She pointed out that it was obvious that any developing country that was serious about closing the poverty gap, cannot continue to ignore the real threat of disempowering such a powerful part of its society and economy, stressing that it is a fact that the world cannot continue to ignore the importance of including women in the decision-making process at all levels.
She said the summit would explore the unique contributions that women could make towards achieving a better world culture. The focus will be the awakening of the woman to see the current world situation as an opportunity to fine-tune and emerge from the world crisis as better business people, through best practices and advocacy aimed at ensuring a better future for all peoples.
She said during the summit, participants will dialogue with Fortune 500 women, through panel discussions and Workshops.
Another important part of the summit will also be a discussion on the Global Re-design Project put forward by the World Economic Forum, and how women can add their voices to the ongoing dialogue.
Some key presentations will be on: branding/ visionary leadership/ the questions of succession/ women transcending cultural limitations/ entering new markets/ corporate social responsibility, etc. all of which is aimed at better positioning the Woman leader to fearlessly improve her environment for the betterment of society.
THE United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), in its 2008 report on Progress of the World’s Women, says that gender bias has meant that “women have been more concentrated than men in informal, subsistence and ‘vulnerable’ employment”. According to the report, ‘vulnerable’ employment referred to self-employment and jobs without salaries in family-owned businesses.
Global reports indicate that women constitute more than half of the world’s population. However, the fact remains that advances have been limited in the economic realm and for poor women in particular, as a result of disadvantanges that are often entrenched in social institutions, economic policies and development strategies that have not adequately recognised the important role of women in economic development and poverty reduction, and as important agents of change.
According to the International labour Organisation (ILO) fewer than 1 in 5 working women in sub-Saharan Africa received regular wages or salaries, compared to a third of employed African men and almost 93 per cent of women in the developed countries.
Looking ahead to 2015 and beyond, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon observes that although it is possible to achieve the overarching goal of ending poverty by 2015, “it requires an unswerving, collective, long-term effort."
In this respect, greater global co-operation is required to resolve the current challenges confronting women, to enable them play their respective roles towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that relate to providing basic human rights to each person on the planet to, namely health, education, shelter, and security.
Concerned with how women, particularly Ghanaian women, can contribute to redesigning global systems and practises in the quest to create a better world, the Eagle Women Empowerment Club (EWEC), in collaboration with the African Business Women’s Network, is organising an international business women’s summit from October 21 - 22 at the National Theatre, in Accra.
The summit is being facilitated by Vital Voices, Exxon Mobil and Fortune 500 Companies, “Synchronising Global Business – A new orientation for the African woman”. Advocacy will also be around high interest rates in many African countries- a major threat to SMEs.
Participants include leading Fortune 500 women, representation from the World Economic Forum, government representatives, business women and women leaders in organisations from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Liberia, and other African countries.
Launched in 2008 as a networking platform for women, EWEC is the local chapter of the Africa Businesswomen’s Network (ABWN), an association of businesswomen’s organisation throughout Africa. ABWN is powered by Vital Voices, Exxon Mobil and supported by Fortune 500.
The goal of the club is to build a network of businesswomen’s organisation in Africa in order to expand the number of women suceeding as entrepreneurs and leaders in the corporate world; to raise the profile and credibility of women in business; to foster global networking opportunities among businesswomen; and to advocate policies that expand economic opportunities for women.
The President of EWEC, Ms Juliet Asante said the number of women performing roles as bread winners continued to increase every year, adding that research shows that women-led companies survived better than alternatives.
She said the back bone of every economy is its SMEs, and especially, in Africa, the majority of SMEs were owned or run by women and as a result, woman obviously had the main responsibility of the home.
She pointed out that it was obvious that any developing country that was serious about closing the poverty gap, cannot continue to ignore the real threat of disempowering such a powerful part of its society and economy, stressing that it is a fact that the world cannot continue to ignore the importance of including women in the decision-making process at all levels.
She said the summit would explore the unique contributions that women could make towards achieving a better world culture. The focus will be the awakening of the woman to see the current world situation as an opportunity to fine-tune and emerge from the world crisis as better business people, through best practices and advocacy aimed at ensuring a better future for all peoples.
She said during the summit, participants will dialogue with Fortune 500 women, through panel discussions and Workshops.
Another important part of the summit will also be a discussion on the Global Re-design Project put forward by the World Economic Forum, and how women can add their voices to the ongoing dialogue.
Some key presentations will be on: branding/ visionary leadership/ the questions of succession/ women transcending cultural limitations/ entering new markets/ corporate social responsibility, etc. all of which is aimed at better positioning the Woman leader to fearlessly improve her environment for the betterment of society.
Negative aspects of widowhood rites
Story: Salome Donkor
Widowhood practices vary among various ethnic groups in the country, some impacting negatively on widows and orphans. Among some ethnic groups, widows are forced to strip naked in public and undergo other unpleasant exercises that abuse their right to dignity.
In a report on violence against women in Ghana, the United Nations (UN) Division for the Advancement of Women indicated that widowhood rites included confining the widow to a room, shaving her head, having her wear a rope around her neck and making her go through a ritual bath.
The Widows and Orphans Ministry (WOM), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded in 1993 and based in Bolgatanga, whose mission is to fight for the interest of widows and orphans conducted research on inheritance in the Upper East Region and found that widowhood rites are considered dehumanising by many widows.
The organisation identified the following widowhood rites that include stripping a widow naked and having her wear only shea tree leaves; having the widow bathe naked in public; forcing the widow to marry a man from her late husband's family; having the widow feed the ritualist during and after the funeral; and isolating the widow and exposing her to black ants.
Compelling women to observe some of these cultural rites like compelling the widow to marry a man from her late husband's family, seem to increase their susceptibility to HIV transmission and endanger their lives.
Reports from the Upper West Region indicate that this practice nicknamed “Bye Election”, is prevalent in the area.
When reached on phone by this reporter to find more about the customary rite, the Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Women of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, Mrs Catherine Bob-Milliar, said widowhood inheritance that involved the remarriage of a widow to an elder brother of her late husband, was prevalent in parts of the region.
Explaining how the system operates, she said when a man died, the widow had to go through the traditional rite or pay the dowry, which sometimes involved four cows, to the relatives of her deceased husband and move out of her late husband’s compound, adding that the relatives of the deceased tended to be very unsympathetic to a widow who has no child with her late husband and refuses to perform the rite.
She said although the practice had some significance some years back, since it was seen as providing the widow and her children with some form of social security, it now needed a second look, considering the risk involved in the possible spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS.
Touching on other negative aspects of the practice, she said it sometimes resulted in domestic feud, considering the fact that the senior wife of the man, who is re-marrying a new wife, gets peeved.
According to Mrs Bob-Milliar, her department registered 7,000 widows, comprising young ones, as of 2002, and pointed out that the surprising thing is that these days most young girls who are widows, are not interested in the widowhood inheritance.
She said since the dowry was very high, particularly in Lawra, coupled with the high illiteracy rate among women, compared to men, women who found themselves in that condition had no option but to go through the practice.
She, however said, a few enlightened ones, who were economically empowered, preferred to refund the dowry to the family of the deceased to remarrying an elder brother of her deceased husband.
She said the Department of Women had intensified sensitisation programmes through dialogue with chiefs, opinion leaders and women leaders to enlighten them on the need to revise the customary rite in order to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and safeguard the health of the people.
When asked whether the affected women were not aware of PNDC Law 111 that protected a widow or widower, whose spouse died Intestate, Mrs Bob-Milliar said because of the payment of high dowry by husbands, women were seen as the ‘property’ of their husbands, adding that although widowhood rites were prohibited under Ghana's penal code many widows were not aware of this legislation.
Widowhood practices vary among various ethnic groups in the country, some impacting negatively on widows and orphans. Among some ethnic groups, widows are forced to strip naked in public and undergo other unpleasant exercises that abuse their right to dignity.
In a report on violence against women in Ghana, the United Nations (UN) Division for the Advancement of Women indicated that widowhood rites included confining the widow to a room, shaving her head, having her wear a rope around her neck and making her go through a ritual bath.
The Widows and Orphans Ministry (WOM), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded in 1993 and based in Bolgatanga, whose mission is to fight for the interest of widows and orphans conducted research on inheritance in the Upper East Region and found that widowhood rites are considered dehumanising by many widows.
The organisation identified the following widowhood rites that include stripping a widow naked and having her wear only shea tree leaves; having the widow bathe naked in public; forcing the widow to marry a man from her late husband's family; having the widow feed the ritualist during and after the funeral; and isolating the widow and exposing her to black ants.
Compelling women to observe some of these cultural rites like compelling the widow to marry a man from her late husband's family, seem to increase their susceptibility to HIV transmission and endanger their lives.
Reports from the Upper West Region indicate that this practice nicknamed “Bye Election”, is prevalent in the area.
When reached on phone by this reporter to find more about the customary rite, the Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Women of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, Mrs Catherine Bob-Milliar, said widowhood inheritance that involved the remarriage of a widow to an elder brother of her late husband, was prevalent in parts of the region.
Explaining how the system operates, she said when a man died, the widow had to go through the traditional rite or pay the dowry, which sometimes involved four cows, to the relatives of her deceased husband and move out of her late husband’s compound, adding that the relatives of the deceased tended to be very unsympathetic to a widow who has no child with her late husband and refuses to perform the rite.
She said although the practice had some significance some years back, since it was seen as providing the widow and her children with some form of social security, it now needed a second look, considering the risk involved in the possible spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS.
Touching on other negative aspects of the practice, she said it sometimes resulted in domestic feud, considering the fact that the senior wife of the man, who is re-marrying a new wife, gets peeved.
According to Mrs Bob-Milliar, her department registered 7,000 widows, comprising young ones, as of 2002, and pointed out that the surprising thing is that these days most young girls who are widows, are not interested in the widowhood inheritance.
She said since the dowry was very high, particularly in Lawra, coupled with the high illiteracy rate among women, compared to men, women who found themselves in that condition had no option but to go through the practice.
She, however said, a few enlightened ones, who were economically empowered, preferred to refund the dowry to the family of the deceased to remarrying an elder brother of her deceased husband.
She said the Department of Women had intensified sensitisation programmes through dialogue with chiefs, opinion leaders and women leaders to enlighten them on the need to revise the customary rite in order to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and safeguard the health of the people.
When asked whether the affected women were not aware of PNDC Law 111 that protected a widow or widower, whose spouse died Intestate, Mrs Bob-Milliar said because of the payment of high dowry by husbands, women were seen as the ‘property’ of their husbands, adding that although widowhood rites were prohibited under Ghana's penal code many widows were not aware of this legislation.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Women need to be weary of self-styled pastors
Article: Salome Donkor
Recent reports of the spate of abuse of women by self-styled pastors and spiritualists amply demonstrate the extent to which frustration, anxiety and depression suffered by these women can drive them to do things that cannot be justified.
Some of these self-styled pastors and spiritualists, who take advantage of the ignorance and vulnerability of some of the female members of their congregation, subject them to all manner of degrading treatment and sometimes, life threatening acts in the name of “spiritual cleansing”.
This issue generated a strong argument among a group of public office staff, who expressed divided opinions.
While some sympathised with the women and tried to appreciate their vulnerability, others could not readily assign reasons to what may have driven them to allow these pastors and spiritualists to take advantage of their situations to take them through those exercises, and sexually abuse them in the process.
Whatever the case may be, it is true that certain conditions may compel some women to become victims of these pastors and spiritualists, although it may seem unjustifiable.
Although it may seem unjustifiable, most African societies detest childlessness in marriage, and married women who find themselves in this situation, are compelled to move heaven and earth to get a child. In most cases, these women fall prey to self-styled pastors and spiritualists who subject them to all kinds of inhuman and degrading treatment.
In other instances too, some old women are branded witches and are accused of being the cause of all evils in the family.In parts of Ghana, such suspected witches are confined to witches camps, while those who are dragged to churches are subjected to all kinds of inhuman treatment to make them confess.
In parts of the country, women who go through prolonged labour are accused of infidelity and are subjected to all kinds of treatment to make them ‘confess their sins’. These are thought to be justified and the perpetrators see nothing wrong with it.
These, among other issues confronting women, prompted the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) to issue a statement condemning the practice, which it described as disheartening.
In a release signed by its Public Relations Officer (PRO),Mrs Adiza Ofori-Adu, the ministry cited the case of one Kojo Addai, a 30 year old pastor of God's True Church at Teshie, who allegedly washed the genital organs of some of the female members of his followers.
The ministry further stated that reports also alleged that Addai deceived his female followers to believe that the best way of protecting them against spiritual forces was to take them through some rituals, one of which was for him to wash their genital organs.
It cited another case involving one Odartey Lamptey, who was being investigated by the Adenta Police for allegedly fondling the private parts of two women who went to him to seek treatment.
In another instance, the Ministry, said a 40-year-old woman, Esther Ayeley, was alleged to have been whipped to death by Pastor Kwame Kusi of Warriors Zion Prayer Camp at Asante Kwaku, a village near Nsawam.
The release said Kusi was alleged to have testified during a deliverance service that the deceased and her two daughters were witches and with the help of some members of the congregation, stretched out the woman and caned her until she collapsed and died the following day.
The ministry strongly condemned those acts and called on the security and law enforcement agencies to ensure that those self-styled pastors and spiritualists were brought to book in line with the country's laws.
To reflect on the role of the continent’s females in the society and celebrate African women’s accomplishments vis-à-vis gender equality at all levels of African politics, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now transformed into the African Union (AU), designated July 31 as Pan-African Women’s Day in 1962 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Currently, the date continues to be remembered in the African continent as the situation of women remains bleak, despite the fact that gradually they are starting to reach a comfortable economic independence and decision-making positions.
The first world conference on the status of women was held in Mexico City to coincide with the 1975 International Women's Year, to remind the international community that discrimination against women continued to be a persistent problem in most parts of the world.
The conference led to the declaration of the United Nations Decade for Women (1976-1985) proclaimed by the General Assembly which launched a new era in global efforts to promote the advancement of women by opening a world-wide dialogue on gender equality.
A process was set in motion to involve deliberation, negotiation, setting objectives, identifying obstacles and reviewing the progress made.
Despite these efforts, many women around the world continue to suffer discrimination and challenges posed by social attitudes and policies that continue to condone and perpetuate violence against women and girls.
The Declaration of the Elimination of Violence Against Women adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 defines violence against women as “any act of gender based violence that results in or likely to result in physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life”.
It includes sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, such as battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non spousal abuse and violence related exploitation.
Last year, Ghana launched the 3rd, 4th and 5th Combined Reports on the Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Accra.
The ceremony provided a forum for the enumeration of measures taken over the years to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women in the country.
The reports covered the period 1993 to 2003 and highlighted progress made over the decade in achieving gender equality, as well as challenges and efforts being made by the government towards the realisation of women’s empowerment, equality, equity and sustainable development.
State parties are enjoined under provisions of CEDAW to submit periodic reports to the committee on the elimination of discrimination against women and the three reports provided additional information on questions and issues raised in the report and offers a lot of issues for discussion.
The Network of Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), a coalition of organisations and individuals advocating gender equity, which made an assessment on issues of concern to women in Africa in 2008 established that discriminatory practices against women in the name of culture still prevail in Africa with increasing efforts being made to address them.
A paper presented by Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, the NETRIGHT Convenor, during the organisation’s end-of-year event in Accra, indicated that an estimated three million girls a year are said to be at risk from the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and many of them are in Africa.
She indicated that within the Ghanaian context , stories published on women during the period featured a range of themes and more than half of all the stories were on women, politics and decision-making with a specific focus on the 2008 elections.
According to Dr Mensah-Kutin, other stories could be located within the general themes of violence against women, women's health, beauty and entertainment, women and the economy, as well as discriminatory practices against women.
Some studies have found strong association between low socio-economic status and violence against women. However, in some settings women with high autonomy may actually be at risk of violence.
Unless women are asked directly about violence, many will not disclose it. This is mainly due to the shame and fear of reprisals from the perpetrators.
Another statement issued by MOWAC urged the media to devote more attention to issues confronting women and children.
The release said, in addition to facing all forms of discrimination and abuses, women were raped and violently assaulted by their spouses and partners.
It also said, parents were increasingly shirking their responsibilities towards their children, resulting in streetism, child trafficking, child prostitution, teenage pregnancy and the use of narcotic drugs, as well as other social vices which threatened the well being and survival of children in the country.
As was referred to in the release, Ghana will,next year, take part in the Beijing+15 review meeting on the implementation of the Beijing Platform of Action. The media was reminded of its critical role in the implementation process.
It behoves social workers, marriage counsellors and dedicated pastors committed to the work of God (not self-styled pastors and spiritualists) to help women in need to overcome their agony and tribulations. Women also need to refrain from seeking the services of these self-styled pastors and spiritualists, and pray to God, guided by the scriptures that “In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known unto God” Philippians 4:6.
Recent reports of the spate of abuse of women by self-styled pastors and spiritualists amply demonstrate the extent to which frustration, anxiety and depression suffered by these women can drive them to do things that cannot be justified.
Some of these self-styled pastors and spiritualists, who take advantage of the ignorance and vulnerability of some of the female members of their congregation, subject them to all manner of degrading treatment and sometimes, life threatening acts in the name of “spiritual cleansing”.
This issue generated a strong argument among a group of public office staff, who expressed divided opinions.
While some sympathised with the women and tried to appreciate their vulnerability, others could not readily assign reasons to what may have driven them to allow these pastors and spiritualists to take advantage of their situations to take them through those exercises, and sexually abuse them in the process.
Whatever the case may be, it is true that certain conditions may compel some women to become victims of these pastors and spiritualists, although it may seem unjustifiable.
Although it may seem unjustifiable, most African societies detest childlessness in marriage, and married women who find themselves in this situation, are compelled to move heaven and earth to get a child. In most cases, these women fall prey to self-styled pastors and spiritualists who subject them to all kinds of inhuman and degrading treatment.
In other instances too, some old women are branded witches and are accused of being the cause of all evils in the family.In parts of Ghana, such suspected witches are confined to witches camps, while those who are dragged to churches are subjected to all kinds of inhuman treatment to make them confess.
In parts of the country, women who go through prolonged labour are accused of infidelity and are subjected to all kinds of treatment to make them ‘confess their sins’. These are thought to be justified and the perpetrators see nothing wrong with it.
These, among other issues confronting women, prompted the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) to issue a statement condemning the practice, which it described as disheartening.
In a release signed by its Public Relations Officer (PRO),Mrs Adiza Ofori-Adu, the ministry cited the case of one Kojo Addai, a 30 year old pastor of God's True Church at Teshie, who allegedly washed the genital organs of some of the female members of his followers.
The ministry further stated that reports also alleged that Addai deceived his female followers to believe that the best way of protecting them against spiritual forces was to take them through some rituals, one of which was for him to wash their genital organs.
It cited another case involving one Odartey Lamptey, who was being investigated by the Adenta Police for allegedly fondling the private parts of two women who went to him to seek treatment.
In another instance, the Ministry, said a 40-year-old woman, Esther Ayeley, was alleged to have been whipped to death by Pastor Kwame Kusi of Warriors Zion Prayer Camp at Asante Kwaku, a village near Nsawam.
The release said Kusi was alleged to have testified during a deliverance service that the deceased and her two daughters were witches and with the help of some members of the congregation, stretched out the woman and caned her until she collapsed and died the following day.
The ministry strongly condemned those acts and called on the security and law enforcement agencies to ensure that those self-styled pastors and spiritualists were brought to book in line with the country's laws.
To reflect on the role of the continent’s females in the society and celebrate African women’s accomplishments vis-à-vis gender equality at all levels of African politics, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now transformed into the African Union (AU), designated July 31 as Pan-African Women’s Day in 1962 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Currently, the date continues to be remembered in the African continent as the situation of women remains bleak, despite the fact that gradually they are starting to reach a comfortable economic independence and decision-making positions.
The first world conference on the status of women was held in Mexico City to coincide with the 1975 International Women's Year, to remind the international community that discrimination against women continued to be a persistent problem in most parts of the world.
The conference led to the declaration of the United Nations Decade for Women (1976-1985) proclaimed by the General Assembly which launched a new era in global efforts to promote the advancement of women by opening a world-wide dialogue on gender equality.
A process was set in motion to involve deliberation, negotiation, setting objectives, identifying obstacles and reviewing the progress made.
Despite these efforts, many women around the world continue to suffer discrimination and challenges posed by social attitudes and policies that continue to condone and perpetuate violence against women and girls.
The Declaration of the Elimination of Violence Against Women adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 defines violence against women as “any act of gender based violence that results in or likely to result in physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life”.
It includes sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, such as battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non spousal abuse and violence related exploitation.
Last year, Ghana launched the 3rd, 4th and 5th Combined Reports on the Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Accra.
The ceremony provided a forum for the enumeration of measures taken over the years to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women in the country.
The reports covered the period 1993 to 2003 and highlighted progress made over the decade in achieving gender equality, as well as challenges and efforts being made by the government towards the realisation of women’s empowerment, equality, equity and sustainable development.
State parties are enjoined under provisions of CEDAW to submit periodic reports to the committee on the elimination of discrimination against women and the three reports provided additional information on questions and issues raised in the report and offers a lot of issues for discussion.
The Network of Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), a coalition of organisations and individuals advocating gender equity, which made an assessment on issues of concern to women in Africa in 2008 established that discriminatory practices against women in the name of culture still prevail in Africa with increasing efforts being made to address them.
A paper presented by Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, the NETRIGHT Convenor, during the organisation’s end-of-year event in Accra, indicated that an estimated three million girls a year are said to be at risk from the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and many of them are in Africa.
She indicated that within the Ghanaian context , stories published on women during the period featured a range of themes and more than half of all the stories were on women, politics and decision-making with a specific focus on the 2008 elections.
According to Dr Mensah-Kutin, other stories could be located within the general themes of violence against women, women's health, beauty and entertainment, women and the economy, as well as discriminatory practices against women.
Some studies have found strong association between low socio-economic status and violence against women. However, in some settings women with high autonomy may actually be at risk of violence.
Unless women are asked directly about violence, many will not disclose it. This is mainly due to the shame and fear of reprisals from the perpetrators.
Another statement issued by MOWAC urged the media to devote more attention to issues confronting women and children.
The release said, in addition to facing all forms of discrimination and abuses, women were raped and violently assaulted by their spouses and partners.
It also said, parents were increasingly shirking their responsibilities towards their children, resulting in streetism, child trafficking, child prostitution, teenage pregnancy and the use of narcotic drugs, as well as other social vices which threatened the well being and survival of children in the country.
As was referred to in the release, Ghana will,next year, take part in the Beijing+15 review meeting on the implementation of the Beijing Platform of Action. The media was reminded of its critical role in the implementation process.
It behoves social workers, marriage counsellors and dedicated pastors committed to the work of God (not self-styled pastors and spiritualists) to help women in need to overcome their agony and tribulations. Women also need to refrain from seeking the services of these self-styled pastors and spiritualists, and pray to God, guided by the scriptures that “In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known unto God” Philippians 4:6.
‘Let’s demystify breast cancer’
Story: Salome Donkor
The President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr (Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe-Adae, has called for a concerted effort and intensive education to highlight the world-wide growing breast cancer crisis and its effect on women in particular.
She said it was necessary to demystify breast cancer to disabuse the minds of patients of the fear, misconception and myths surrounding the disease and encourage women to go for regular, medical examination of their breasts.
Speaking in an interview, she said because of the stigmatisation, myth and fear surrounding the disease, nobody wanted to be associated with it, stressing that, that was affecting fight against breast cancer.
Dr (Mrs) Wiafe-Adae, who is a breast cancer specialist and a surgeon in charge of the Peace and Love Hospital at Kumasi and Accra, said the cause of the disease was unknown but women with breast cancer-positive family histories should have regular breast examinations, and mammogram (breast x-ray), since they are at risk.
She said because the disease was not painful at the initial stages, people with breast cancer did not see the need to seek medical care when they developed the disease but waited till the advanced stage, when it was difficult to manage the disease.
She said all hands must be on deck to equip women with knowledge of the disease, since the lack of it made some victims seek support from herbalists and pastors, instead of visiting a health facility.
Dr (Mrs) Wiafe-Addae expressed concern about the stigmatisation of breast cancer patients and pointed out that “going round to educate people on the disease to ensure early detection and treatment can save the woman’s breast and her life as well”. She stressed “ignorance is killing our women and we have to fight it by empowering them with knowledge of the disease”.
She said for that reason, BCI continued to embark on education and clinical examination in churches, communities and other public areas to counsel women to go for breast screening and encourage those who have developed the cancer to seek treatment.
She added that since the organisation started its programme in 2002, over 150,000 women had been reached, adding that out of 100 people examined every year, “you are likely to get at least one case of breast cancer among the group”.
She advised patients not to be afraid of mastectomy (surgical operation to remove the breast) and other breast cancer treatment, and pointed out that breast cancer was 95 per cent curable when it is detected early.
She advised women not to take any lump in their breast for granted but to seek medical care.
The President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr (Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe-Adae, has called for a concerted effort and intensive education to highlight the world-wide growing breast cancer crisis and its effect on women in particular.
She said it was necessary to demystify breast cancer to disabuse the minds of patients of the fear, misconception and myths surrounding the disease and encourage women to go for regular, medical examination of their breasts.
Speaking in an interview, she said because of the stigmatisation, myth and fear surrounding the disease, nobody wanted to be associated with it, stressing that, that was affecting fight against breast cancer.
Dr (Mrs) Wiafe-Adae, who is a breast cancer specialist and a surgeon in charge of the Peace and Love Hospital at Kumasi and Accra, said the cause of the disease was unknown but women with breast cancer-positive family histories should have regular breast examinations, and mammogram (breast x-ray), since they are at risk.
She said because the disease was not painful at the initial stages, people with breast cancer did not see the need to seek medical care when they developed the disease but waited till the advanced stage, when it was difficult to manage the disease.
She said all hands must be on deck to equip women with knowledge of the disease, since the lack of it made some victims seek support from herbalists and pastors, instead of visiting a health facility.
Dr (Mrs) Wiafe-Addae expressed concern about the stigmatisation of breast cancer patients and pointed out that “going round to educate people on the disease to ensure early detection and treatment can save the woman’s breast and her life as well”. She stressed “ignorance is killing our women and we have to fight it by empowering them with knowledge of the disease”.
She said for that reason, BCI continued to embark on education and clinical examination in churches, communities and other public areas to counsel women to go for breast screening and encourage those who have developed the cancer to seek treatment.
She added that since the organisation started its programme in 2002, over 150,000 women had been reached, adding that out of 100 people examined every year, “you are likely to get at least one case of breast cancer among the group”.
She advised patients not to be afraid of mastectomy (surgical operation to remove the breast) and other breast cancer treatment, and pointed out that breast cancer was 95 per cent curable when it is detected early.
She advised women not to take any lump in their breast for granted but to seek medical care.
Media urged to respect children’s rights
Story: Salome Donkor
The Executive Director of Child’s Rights International, Mr Bright Appiah, has urged the media to respect provisions of the 1992 Constitution and other child protection policies that protect the rights of the child.
He said inasmuch as the media need to perform their duties such as exposing wrongdoing in the society, they must also be mindful of the rights of children, as stipulated in the Children’s Act of 1998 (Act 560), the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC),
ratified by Ghana in 1989, as well as other national and international conventions that offer adequate protection for children.
Reacting to a photograph accompanying a story on the operations of a paedophile obtained from a video clip published in the September 10 edition of an Accra daily, that showed the pictures of children engaged in oral sex with the suspect, Mr Bright Appiah said “the publication violated the fundamental principles of the country’s child protection policies”.
He quoted Section 2 (1) of the Children’s Act, which states “The best interest of the child shall be paramount in any matter concerning a child” and Section 2 (2), which states that “The best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration by any court, person, institution or other body in any matter concerned with a child” and said the publication contravened these provisions.
He said Ghana was the first country to ratify the CRC, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1989, which spells out the basic human rights which children everywhere are entitled to.
Article 17 of the CRC recognises "the important function performed by the mass media," and calls on governments who have signed the convention to "ensure that the child has access to information and material from a diversity of national and international sources. " It also encourages the media "to disseminate information and material of social and cultural benefit to the child," and calls on governments to encourage the development of guidelines to protect children from harmful material.
Mr Appiah said the victims had already suffered serious emotional and psychological trauma and needed to be rehabilitated but coverage approach by the paper, which prominently featured the victims, who are minors, with the sexually offensive photographs “promoted obscenity” and grossly violated their rights.
The Daily Guide in its September 10, 2009 edition, published the story and accompanying pictures of victims having oral sex with an alleged American paedophile, Patrick Ken Larbash, 65, who was said to have lured the children, some as young as three, to his house.
The Executive Director of Child’s Rights International, Mr Bright Appiah, has urged the media to respect provisions of the 1992 Constitution and other child protection policies that protect the rights of the child.
He said inasmuch as the media need to perform their duties such as exposing wrongdoing in the society, they must also be mindful of the rights of children, as stipulated in the Children’s Act of 1998 (Act 560), the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC),
ratified by Ghana in 1989, as well as other national and international conventions that offer adequate protection for children.
Reacting to a photograph accompanying a story on the operations of a paedophile obtained from a video clip published in the September 10 edition of an Accra daily, that showed the pictures of children engaged in oral sex with the suspect, Mr Bright Appiah said “the publication violated the fundamental principles of the country’s child protection policies”.
He quoted Section 2 (1) of the Children’s Act, which states “The best interest of the child shall be paramount in any matter concerning a child” and Section 2 (2), which states that “The best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration by any court, person, institution or other body in any matter concerned with a child” and said the publication contravened these provisions.
He said Ghana was the first country to ratify the CRC, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1989, which spells out the basic human rights which children everywhere are entitled to.
Article 17 of the CRC recognises "the important function performed by the mass media," and calls on governments who have signed the convention to "ensure that the child has access to information and material from a diversity of national and international sources. " It also encourages the media "to disseminate information and material of social and cultural benefit to the child," and calls on governments to encourage the development of guidelines to protect children from harmful material.
Mr Appiah said the victims had already suffered serious emotional and psychological trauma and needed to be rehabilitated but coverage approach by the paper, which prominently featured the victims, who are minors, with the sexually offensive photographs “promoted obscenity” and grossly violated their rights.
The Daily Guide in its September 10, 2009 edition, published the story and accompanying pictures of victims having oral sex with an alleged American paedophile, Patrick Ken Larbash, 65, who was said to have lured the children, some as young as three, to his house.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Why Chereponi Seat should be retained by a woman
Story: Salome Donkor
THE passing away of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chereponi Constituency in the Northern Region, Mrs Doris Asibi Seidu, on Saturday, August 1, has dealt a painful blow not only to her family members, constituents and parliament, but also to women activists longing for improvement in the representation of women in politics and decision-making.
This means a reduction in the already low number of women in the current 230-member Legislature, from 20 to 19. Her death means a bye-election will be held to find a replacement, but it is not certain whether a women will win the bye-election to replace her.
In 2004, 104 women contested the parliamentary election out of which 25, comprising 20 females from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and five from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were elected.
Mrs Seidu won the Chereponi seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2004 and retained it in the 2008 elections when she polled 9,188 out of the 17,559 valid votes cast, representing 53 per cent of the votes.
Achieving an improvement in the representation of women in politics and decision-making had been an issue that had attracted the attention of gender advocates and women rights groups.
The number of women in the current Parliament makes it a herculean to meet the international target of a minimum of 30 per cent women in political decision making positions
Average women constitute only 17 per cent of representatives in parliaments across the world, and Rwanda is the first country in Africa to meet the 50 per cent quota as stipulated in the African Union (AU's) Protocol to the African Charter on Rights of Women in Africa.
During the 2008 elections the Women in Law and Development (WiLDAF) Ghana consistently highlighted on the need for the various political parties to work with their women’s wings and women’s rights groups to put in place affirmative action to address the abysmal performance of women in the parliamentary elections, under its “We Know Politics” project.
WiLDAF maintains that the country needs affirmative action to step up the exposure of women to the public political positions. That assertion challenges her with an awesome responsibility of making the voices of her constituents heard in parliament.
During the elections, there were specific activities and statements from women's groups to political parties to field more women in safe seats, as there were others to directly strengthen individual women's capacity to stand and win seats as parliamentary candidates.
The Women's Manifesto Coalition hosted by ABANTU for Development also initiated actions supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), ActionAid, Frederick Ebert Foundation FES and others in support of that goal.
Gender and policy advocacy organisations recognise that improving the lives of women and other members of society require a balanced gender representation in government structures by promoting greater responsiveness to women in politics and decision-making.
Women would also have improved chances of being elected to political office to promote gender-balance in decision-making at all levels so that their interests and basic needs will continue to be met by influencing policies from a gender perspective and addressing inequalities and injustices in social relationships.
A statement issued by WiLDAF, Ghana, said the passing away of Mrs Seidu is a blow to the women’s movement considering the low representation of women in the current parliament in particular and political decision making bodies in general, adding that the MP will be remembered for winning her seat in the Chereponi constituency for the second time.
The statement called on political parties that will contest the Chereponi seat, to honour the hard work and dedication of the late MP by nominating female candidates for the upcoming bye-election.
It said the current 8.7 per cent representation of women in Parliament of 230 demonstrates the unwillingness to meet the international target of a minimum of 30 per cent women in political decision making positions, adding that since the return of democratic rule in 1992, women’s participation in government and public structures at both the national and local level has not been the best, given the much touted progress Ghana has made in democratic governance.
The statement pointed out that a majority of democratic enthusiasts consider Ghana’s democracy to be gradually consolidating and that Ghana must, as a matter of course, adhere fully to democratic values and principles, among which is respect for women’s rights.
The statement expressed the condolences of Board and Staff of WiLDAF Ghana to the Women’s Caucus of Parliament for the loss of an astute member and a friend, adding that “we are saddened by the death of Mrs Seidu”.
The MP died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, after battling with a protracted illness, 2009.
Mrs Seidu, who was a teacher and social worker by profession, served on the Education and Mines and Energy committees in parliament. She is survived by a husband and one child.
THE passing away of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chereponi Constituency in the Northern Region, Mrs Doris Asibi Seidu, on Saturday, August 1, has dealt a painful blow not only to her family members, constituents and parliament, but also to women activists longing for improvement in the representation of women in politics and decision-making.
This means a reduction in the already low number of women in the current 230-member Legislature, from 20 to 19. Her death means a bye-election will be held to find a replacement, but it is not certain whether a women will win the bye-election to replace her.
In 2004, 104 women contested the parliamentary election out of which 25, comprising 20 females from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and five from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were elected.
Mrs Seidu won the Chereponi seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2004 and retained it in the 2008 elections when she polled 9,188 out of the 17,559 valid votes cast, representing 53 per cent of the votes.
Achieving an improvement in the representation of women in politics and decision-making had been an issue that had attracted the attention of gender advocates and women rights groups.
The number of women in the current Parliament makes it a herculean to meet the international target of a minimum of 30 per cent women in political decision making positions
Average women constitute only 17 per cent of representatives in parliaments across the world, and Rwanda is the first country in Africa to meet the 50 per cent quota as stipulated in the African Union (AU's) Protocol to the African Charter on Rights of Women in Africa.
During the 2008 elections the Women in Law and Development (WiLDAF) Ghana consistently highlighted on the need for the various political parties to work with their women’s wings and women’s rights groups to put in place affirmative action to address the abysmal performance of women in the parliamentary elections, under its “We Know Politics” project.
WiLDAF maintains that the country needs affirmative action to step up the exposure of women to the public political positions. That assertion challenges her with an awesome responsibility of making the voices of her constituents heard in parliament.
During the elections, there were specific activities and statements from women's groups to political parties to field more women in safe seats, as there were others to directly strengthen individual women's capacity to stand and win seats as parliamentary candidates.
The Women's Manifesto Coalition hosted by ABANTU for Development also initiated actions supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), ActionAid, Frederick Ebert Foundation FES and others in support of that goal.
Gender and policy advocacy organisations recognise that improving the lives of women and other members of society require a balanced gender representation in government structures by promoting greater responsiveness to women in politics and decision-making.
Women would also have improved chances of being elected to political office to promote gender-balance in decision-making at all levels so that their interests and basic needs will continue to be met by influencing policies from a gender perspective and addressing inequalities and injustices in social relationships.
A statement issued by WiLDAF, Ghana, said the passing away of Mrs Seidu is a blow to the women’s movement considering the low representation of women in the current parliament in particular and political decision making bodies in general, adding that the MP will be remembered for winning her seat in the Chereponi constituency for the second time.
The statement called on political parties that will contest the Chereponi seat, to honour the hard work and dedication of the late MP by nominating female candidates for the upcoming bye-election.
It said the current 8.7 per cent representation of women in Parliament of 230 demonstrates the unwillingness to meet the international target of a minimum of 30 per cent women in political decision making positions, adding that since the return of democratic rule in 1992, women’s participation in government and public structures at both the national and local level has not been the best, given the much touted progress Ghana has made in democratic governance.
The statement pointed out that a majority of democratic enthusiasts consider Ghana’s democracy to be gradually consolidating and that Ghana must, as a matter of course, adhere fully to democratic values and principles, among which is respect for women’s rights.
The statement expressed the condolences of Board and Staff of WiLDAF Ghana to the Women’s Caucus of Parliament for the loss of an astute member and a friend, adding that “we are saddened by the death of Mrs Seidu”.
The MP died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, after battling with a protracted illness, 2009.
Mrs Seidu, who was a teacher and social worker by profession, served on the Education and Mines and Energy committees in parliament. She is survived by a husband and one child.
Tackling challenges confronting women
Article: Salome Donkor
A number of challenges and negative practices continue to affect the development of women in Africa and other parts of the world. Problems impeding their ability to expand their capabilities, how to attain their full freedom and dignity and also how to promote and sustain empowerment programmes, are some of the inequalities confronting African women in their daily lives.
In some African countries, women still lack access to economic rights, access to land ownership, ability to influence reproductive and family development such as who to marry, how many children to have and their spacing.
To reflect on the role of the continent’s females in the society and celebrate African women’s accomplishments vis-à-vis gender equality at all levels of African politics, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now transformed into the African Union (AU), designated July 31 as Pan-African Women’s Day in 1962 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. This was at the first-ever Pan-African Women’s Conference, which was attended by 14 countries and eight liberation movements, during the African Women Conference.
Twelve years on, women gathered again on July 31, 1974 in Dakar, Senegal, to create a more even representative organisation called the Pan African Women’s organisation (PAWO). This day was dedicated as the ‘Day of the African Woman’ on the occasion of the first Congress of the PAWO that year, culminating in the celebration of African Women’s Day, which falls on July 31 every year.
While the AU has since moved the official celebration date to 25th September, events world-wide are nonetheless planned around its original date of July 31.
Currently, the date continues to be remembered in the African continent as the situation of women remains bleak, despite the fact that gradually they are starting to reach a comfortable economic independence and decision-making positions.
The theme for this year's celebration is “ fighting against the exploitation of women and girls” and three main topics, namely forms of exploitation suffered by women and girls in Africa, both in public life and within communities and families, awareness of the countless negative consequences of the phenomenon and government and partners' willingness to develop concrete strategies in finding an appropriate response to the phenomenon, are being addressed under the theme.
Exploitation refers to the use of human beings, women or girls in this context, for the purpose of making profit. It is reducing this human beings to an object, to a means of achieving one's goals. The result is sufferings notably physical, moral and psychological.
As such the commercial use of women and girls' image in the media, pimping, rape, excessive dowry, forced marriage, the non consideration of women's domestic production, oppressing sexual life and motherhood, discriminatory and unjust sexual division of labour, manipulation of female electorate, food taboos unjustified at scientific level, buying of economically distress women and girl's conscience and sex by socially and financially well located men etc. are illustrations of the most current forms of exploitation in the African context.
The work to mainstream gender in continental organisations has been, and continues to be, a long process. For years, Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) in collaboration with African Women’s Committee on Peace and Development (AWCPD) has worked to bring a gender perspective to the continent’s agenda. This work began in Lomé, Togo in July 2000 with the adoption of the Constitutive Act of the AU and continued thereafter with a series of meetings aimed at pushing forward the agenda of increasing the inclusion of women at the decision-making level.
FAS and AWCPD also organised a vigorous campaign for gender mainstreaming involving many African women’s networks.
Commemorating the 45th Pan-African Women’s Day with a panel discussion of ministers of the Senegalese Government on July 31, 2007 in Dakar, Senegal, Mme Bineta Diop, Executive Director of FAS, made a presentation on FAS’s advocacy activities – particularly, The Gender is My Agenda campaign. The Gender is My Agenda campaign was launched following the adoption of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) by the member states of the AU in 2004. The campaign focuses on the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the SDGEA in African Union member states.
To mark the Day of the African Woman, The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (The Commission), the premier regional human right body conveys a message of goodwill to all African women and reminds member states to support the activities organised by civil society organisations and governments across the Continent. The commission highlights these events to demonstrate the historical role women played in society which is the character of women as pioneers able to build and lead in developments.
The commission urges all to continue observing the rights of women, endeavour to empower and develop women.
All of these rights are provided for women’s enjoyment and practice in the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa, of which only 25 Member States, party to the African Charter have ratified.
Against this background, the commission urges all member states who have not ratified the Protocol, to do so as member states mark the ‘Day of the African Woman’. The commission also urges member states to analyse the impact of the world economic and financial crisis on the lives of the African families and to assess the impact of the world crisis on the lives of the African families, strategies for its reduction and forms to diversify actions to fight poverty.
The commission emphasises that a delay in ratifying the protocol, delays the enjoyment of freedoms and rights enshrined in the protocol. Thus perpetuating suffering of the women of Africa, which goes against the foundation on which this day was dedicated.
Poor women suffer from poor health and a high incidence of maternal deaths. Both men and women in Africa face numerous health challenges, often related to poverty. In particular, women face an array of health issues related to their reproductive roles.
Women living in poverty tend to have poor nutrition, low access to clean water and sanitation, and less access to medical care. In particular, they tend to have less access to obstetric and gynaecological care.
Consequently, a higher incidence of poverty tends to correspond with poor health among women, and higher maternal deaths.
Even as producers and entrepreneurs, it is widely acknowledged that African women have access to fewer resources than men.
In Ghana, various programmes and projects have been put in place to promote women’s health, rights and development.
In 1992, the Ministry of Health, having observed the numerous health problems affecting women and children in particular, set a number of priorities for itself, and intensified maternal and child health services and family planning activities as part of the strategies within the framework of the national population policy.
To combat the serious impact of malaria on pregnant women and children, which according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), was a major cause of maternal and child mortality and in pregnancy, the Ministry of Health was implementing a Global Action Plan on Malaria was adopted and over possible measures to completely combat the disease. This include the identification of all malaria endemic areas and mosquito breeding zones and destroying all mosquito lava, in addition to providing intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) for pregnant women during pregnancy, and the use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) for the entire population living in malaria affected areas.
To promote access to healthcare for expectant mothers to reduce maternal mortality, the government introduced the free maternal care for pregnant women under the National Health Insurance Scheme, while the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service is working strenuously to control domestic violence.
The country’s constitution also protects the rights of women and safeguard them against discrimination and exploitation.
However, daily reports in the media, as well as reported and unreported incidence of commercial use of women and girls' image by the media and publicity agencies; rape; excessive dowry; demeaning female family labour; oppressive sexual life and motherhood; sex by socially and financially well established men with distressed women and girls; female genital mutilations; sexual harassment of school girls and students by their teachers, the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on women, etc. show that the fight against the exploitation of women and girls, is not over.
For example, a survey conducted by the World Bank found that over 95 per cent in Ghana and 90 per cent in Zambia of female workers are employed in the informal sector. This has been marked by the entrance of large numbers of women as the households have tried to compensate for the fall in men's real wages and employment. Women continue to be disproportionately employed in the informal sector, a sector which still receives little structured support in terms of infrastructure (e.g., water, power, telecommunications). Workers in the informal sector also have relatively low access to credit.
Overall, the unemployment rate of women continues to be significantly higher than that of men. Thus, although some steps have been taken to pass legislation that increases women's access to productive and other resources in some countries (e.g., land and credit), women still continue to be at a disadvantage in terms of access and control of economic structures.
There is therefore the need for an unwavering commitment to the protection and promotion of African women and girls' dignity. The woman is a human being just like a man. It is important to treat her as such.
The adoption of gender mainstreaming of all government policies and programmes, if fully implemented, is likely to improve the situation of gender imbalance in the sphere of social capital by increasing the number of women in leadership and decision-making. More gender responsive Government programmes are also likely to bring about a re-orientation of priorities, and subsequently in Government spending patterns.
A number of challenges and negative practices continue to affect the development of women in Africa and other parts of the world. Problems impeding their ability to expand their capabilities, how to attain their full freedom and dignity and also how to promote and sustain empowerment programmes, are some of the inequalities confronting African women in their daily lives.
In some African countries, women still lack access to economic rights, access to land ownership, ability to influence reproductive and family development such as who to marry, how many children to have and their spacing.
To reflect on the role of the continent’s females in the society and celebrate African women’s accomplishments vis-à-vis gender equality at all levels of African politics, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now transformed into the African Union (AU), designated July 31 as Pan-African Women’s Day in 1962 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. This was at the first-ever Pan-African Women’s Conference, which was attended by 14 countries and eight liberation movements, during the African Women Conference.
Twelve years on, women gathered again on July 31, 1974 in Dakar, Senegal, to create a more even representative organisation called the Pan African Women’s organisation (PAWO). This day was dedicated as the ‘Day of the African Woman’ on the occasion of the first Congress of the PAWO that year, culminating in the celebration of African Women’s Day, which falls on July 31 every year.
While the AU has since moved the official celebration date to 25th September, events world-wide are nonetheless planned around its original date of July 31.
Currently, the date continues to be remembered in the African continent as the situation of women remains bleak, despite the fact that gradually they are starting to reach a comfortable economic independence and decision-making positions.
The theme for this year's celebration is “ fighting against the exploitation of women and girls” and three main topics, namely forms of exploitation suffered by women and girls in Africa, both in public life and within communities and families, awareness of the countless negative consequences of the phenomenon and government and partners' willingness to develop concrete strategies in finding an appropriate response to the phenomenon, are being addressed under the theme.
Exploitation refers to the use of human beings, women or girls in this context, for the purpose of making profit. It is reducing this human beings to an object, to a means of achieving one's goals. The result is sufferings notably physical, moral and psychological.
As such the commercial use of women and girls' image in the media, pimping, rape, excessive dowry, forced marriage, the non consideration of women's domestic production, oppressing sexual life and motherhood, discriminatory and unjust sexual division of labour, manipulation of female electorate, food taboos unjustified at scientific level, buying of economically distress women and girl's conscience and sex by socially and financially well located men etc. are illustrations of the most current forms of exploitation in the African context.
The work to mainstream gender in continental organisations has been, and continues to be, a long process. For years, Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) in collaboration with African Women’s Committee on Peace and Development (AWCPD) has worked to bring a gender perspective to the continent’s agenda. This work began in Lomé, Togo in July 2000 with the adoption of the Constitutive Act of the AU and continued thereafter with a series of meetings aimed at pushing forward the agenda of increasing the inclusion of women at the decision-making level.
FAS and AWCPD also organised a vigorous campaign for gender mainstreaming involving many African women’s networks.
Commemorating the 45th Pan-African Women’s Day with a panel discussion of ministers of the Senegalese Government on July 31, 2007 in Dakar, Senegal, Mme Bineta Diop, Executive Director of FAS, made a presentation on FAS’s advocacy activities – particularly, The Gender is My Agenda campaign. The Gender is My Agenda campaign was launched following the adoption of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) by the member states of the AU in 2004. The campaign focuses on the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the SDGEA in African Union member states.
To mark the Day of the African Woman, The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (The Commission), the premier regional human right body conveys a message of goodwill to all African women and reminds member states to support the activities organised by civil society organisations and governments across the Continent. The commission highlights these events to demonstrate the historical role women played in society which is the character of women as pioneers able to build and lead in developments.
The commission urges all to continue observing the rights of women, endeavour to empower and develop women.
All of these rights are provided for women’s enjoyment and practice in the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa, of which only 25 Member States, party to the African Charter have ratified.
Against this background, the commission urges all member states who have not ratified the Protocol, to do so as member states mark the ‘Day of the African Woman’. The commission also urges member states to analyse the impact of the world economic and financial crisis on the lives of the African families and to assess the impact of the world crisis on the lives of the African families, strategies for its reduction and forms to diversify actions to fight poverty.
The commission emphasises that a delay in ratifying the protocol, delays the enjoyment of freedoms and rights enshrined in the protocol. Thus perpetuating suffering of the women of Africa, which goes against the foundation on which this day was dedicated.
Poor women suffer from poor health and a high incidence of maternal deaths. Both men and women in Africa face numerous health challenges, often related to poverty. In particular, women face an array of health issues related to their reproductive roles.
Women living in poverty tend to have poor nutrition, low access to clean water and sanitation, and less access to medical care. In particular, they tend to have less access to obstetric and gynaecological care.
Consequently, a higher incidence of poverty tends to correspond with poor health among women, and higher maternal deaths.
Even as producers and entrepreneurs, it is widely acknowledged that African women have access to fewer resources than men.
In Ghana, various programmes and projects have been put in place to promote women’s health, rights and development.
In 1992, the Ministry of Health, having observed the numerous health problems affecting women and children in particular, set a number of priorities for itself, and intensified maternal and child health services and family planning activities as part of the strategies within the framework of the national population policy.
To combat the serious impact of malaria on pregnant women and children, which according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), was a major cause of maternal and child mortality and in pregnancy, the Ministry of Health was implementing a Global Action Plan on Malaria was adopted and over possible measures to completely combat the disease. This include the identification of all malaria endemic areas and mosquito breeding zones and destroying all mosquito lava, in addition to providing intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) for pregnant women during pregnancy, and the use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) for the entire population living in malaria affected areas.
To promote access to healthcare for expectant mothers to reduce maternal mortality, the government introduced the free maternal care for pregnant women under the National Health Insurance Scheme, while the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service is working strenuously to control domestic violence.
The country’s constitution also protects the rights of women and safeguard them against discrimination and exploitation.
However, daily reports in the media, as well as reported and unreported incidence of commercial use of women and girls' image by the media and publicity agencies; rape; excessive dowry; demeaning female family labour; oppressive sexual life and motherhood; sex by socially and financially well established men with distressed women and girls; female genital mutilations; sexual harassment of school girls and students by their teachers, the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on women, etc. show that the fight against the exploitation of women and girls, is not over.
For example, a survey conducted by the World Bank found that over 95 per cent in Ghana and 90 per cent in Zambia of female workers are employed in the informal sector. This has been marked by the entrance of large numbers of women as the households have tried to compensate for the fall in men's real wages and employment. Women continue to be disproportionately employed in the informal sector, a sector which still receives little structured support in terms of infrastructure (e.g., water, power, telecommunications). Workers in the informal sector also have relatively low access to credit.
Overall, the unemployment rate of women continues to be significantly higher than that of men. Thus, although some steps have been taken to pass legislation that increases women's access to productive and other resources in some countries (e.g., land and credit), women still continue to be at a disadvantage in terms of access and control of economic structures.
There is therefore the need for an unwavering commitment to the protection and promotion of African women and girls' dignity. The woman is a human being just like a man. It is important to treat her as such.
The adoption of gender mainstreaming of all government policies and programmes, if fully implemented, is likely to improve the situation of gender imbalance in the sphere of social capital by increasing the number of women in leadership and decision-making. More gender responsive Government programmes are also likely to bring about a re-orientation of priorities, and subsequently in Government spending patterns.
Rosalind Kainyah works with passion
Story: Salome Donkor
The story of Ms Rosalind Kainyah, Vice President, External Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility of Tullow Oil plc, is inspirational and worthy of emulation by the up and coming youth, especially the girl-child. Extolling the virtues of hard work, commitment and resolve to attain greater heights in education, she pursued her career with passion and has carved a niche for herself.
Born in London some five decades ago, Ms Kainyah has a wealth of experience in business, international law, public affairs and corporate communications, which gives her a rare appreciation of both the economic and social impact of companies doing business in Africa.
Until she joined Tullow Oil one-and-a half months ago, she worked with the De Beers Group in the United States for seven years, first as Corporate and Commercial Legal Counsel at the Diamond Trading Company (DTC), then later as Executive Director of Corporate Communications at DTC and finally as Director of Public Affairs for De Beers.
Her office is responsible for the company’s external relations and corporate relations globally, maintaining and building new relations with governments, special interest groups, the media, civil society organisations and stakeholders in the oil and gas industries in countries where Tullow Oil operates.She also co-ordinates the management and development of the company’s global social responsibility programmes.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra on her vision and mission for Tullow Oil, Ms Kainyah said she did a lot of due diligence before joining the company, and realised that over the last two decades the company had proved itself as a successful business entity, and that she intended to build on the good foundation as well as manage the expectations of the industry.
She said she was also looking at how the company’s operations were contributing to the creation of employment, the tax element as well as royalties, by building a broader economic base.
She said she was a great believer and held the conviction that education was key to success in life, stressing that “education, upholding social values and listening to elders have sustained me”.
She was educated in Ghana and in England, and holds a degree in English Firm the University of Ghana, Bachelor of Law and Masters in Law degrees from the University of London.
She is a member of the Bar of England and Wales, a member of G50, a self-help African business group based in London, consisting of African professionals focused on the repatriation of financial and intellectual capital to the continent.
She also serves as a trustee on the boards of The African-American Institute, based in New York, and the Africa Centre for Economic Transformation, based in Accra.
She practised law in various ways and in corporate law, and with her interest in the role of companies and operations of companies in Africa, she decided to take the appointment at Tullow.
According to Ms Kainyah, her mother, who was a nurse in the army, is her first role model, adding that the exploits of women like Madam Barbara Baita of Flaire Catering Services, female ministers like Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mrs Betty Mould-Idrusu, as well as the first female President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, are all sources of inspiration to her.
She advises women to take education seriously and acquire knowledge to build a strong foundation to enhance their development, stressing that “we need to be assertive, brave and feel proud that we are women and prove that we can do it without resentment”.
Established in 1985, Tullow Oil plc is one of the leading independent oil and gas exploration and production companies with operations in over 20 countries across four core areas, namely, Africa, Europe, South Asia and South America. It is the parent company of Tullow Ghana Limited and it is a key player in the development of Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry.
The story of Ms Rosalind Kainyah, Vice President, External Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility of Tullow Oil plc, is inspirational and worthy of emulation by the up and coming youth, especially the girl-child. Extolling the virtues of hard work, commitment and resolve to attain greater heights in education, she pursued her career with passion and has carved a niche for herself.
Born in London some five decades ago, Ms Kainyah has a wealth of experience in business, international law, public affairs and corporate communications, which gives her a rare appreciation of both the economic and social impact of companies doing business in Africa.
Until she joined Tullow Oil one-and-a half months ago, she worked with the De Beers Group in the United States for seven years, first as Corporate and Commercial Legal Counsel at the Diamond Trading Company (DTC), then later as Executive Director of Corporate Communications at DTC and finally as Director of Public Affairs for De Beers.
Her office is responsible for the company’s external relations and corporate relations globally, maintaining and building new relations with governments, special interest groups, the media, civil society organisations and stakeholders in the oil and gas industries in countries where Tullow Oil operates.She also co-ordinates the management and development of the company’s global social responsibility programmes.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra on her vision and mission for Tullow Oil, Ms Kainyah said she did a lot of due diligence before joining the company, and realised that over the last two decades the company had proved itself as a successful business entity, and that she intended to build on the good foundation as well as manage the expectations of the industry.
She said she was also looking at how the company’s operations were contributing to the creation of employment, the tax element as well as royalties, by building a broader economic base.
She said she was a great believer and held the conviction that education was key to success in life, stressing that “education, upholding social values and listening to elders have sustained me”.
She was educated in Ghana and in England, and holds a degree in English Firm the University of Ghana, Bachelor of Law and Masters in Law degrees from the University of London.
She is a member of the Bar of England and Wales, a member of G50, a self-help African business group based in London, consisting of African professionals focused on the repatriation of financial and intellectual capital to the continent.
She also serves as a trustee on the boards of The African-American Institute, based in New York, and the Africa Centre for Economic Transformation, based in Accra.
She practised law in various ways and in corporate law, and with her interest in the role of companies and operations of companies in Africa, she decided to take the appointment at Tullow.
According to Ms Kainyah, her mother, who was a nurse in the army, is her first role model, adding that the exploits of women like Madam Barbara Baita of Flaire Catering Services, female ministers like Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mrs Betty Mould-Idrusu, as well as the first female President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, are all sources of inspiration to her.
She advises women to take education seriously and acquire knowledge to build a strong foundation to enhance their development, stressing that “we need to be assertive, brave and feel proud that we are women and prove that we can do it without resentment”.
Established in 1985, Tullow Oil plc is one of the leading independent oil and gas exploration and production companies with operations in over 20 countries across four core areas, namely, Africa, Europe, South Asia and South America. It is the parent company of Tullow Ghana Limited and it is a key player in the development of Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Exclusive breastfeeding - Vital for infant health
Article: Salome Donkor
THE early days of life are the most vulnerable for a child. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the risk of mortality is greatest during the first days of birth, when it is estimated that between 25 per cent and 45 per cent of neonatal deaths occur.
To improve child survival and proper growth of the child, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that babies should be exclusively breastfed from birth to six months, and then continuos breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond. Breastfeeding is the best and ideal way to provide new-borns with the nutrients they need. In addition to being more affordable than buying enriched milk formula, breast milk contains the nutrients needed by infants for healthy growth and development and is also easier for babies to digest. It is so full of nutrients that some doctors even recommend provision of breast milk to children for several years.
To protect, promote and support breastfeeding, World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1st to 7th August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies. The theme for this year’s celebration is "Breastfeeding - a vital emergency response. Are you ready?” and the national theme adopted by the Ghana Infant Nutrition Action Network, the Ghana branch of the International Baby Food Action Network, is “Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies.”
The week-long celebration is expected to highlight the need to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in emergencies for infants and young child survival, health and development. The week provides the opportunity to advocate for a simple way to save children's lives.
The celebration commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF at a meeting of governments and policy-makers from more than 30 countries in Florence, Italy, in August 1990.
The World Summit for Children endorsed the Innocenti Declaration in September 1990, and its operational targets became part of the Summit goals for the year 2000. Together, the declaration and Plan of Action of the World Summit for Children and the Convention on the Rights of the Child constitute an ambitious but feasible agenda for the well-being of children.
The declaration sets important operational targets that enjoins nations to appoint a national breastfeeding co-ordinator of appropriate authority, and establish a multi-sectoral breastfeeding committee composed of representatives from relevant government departments, non-governmental organisations, and health professional associations.
It also commits nations to ensure that every facility providing maternity services practises all 10 steps to successful breastfeeding and enact imaginative legislation protecting the breastfeeding rights of working women and established means for its enforcement.
“Exclusive breastfeeding is one of the most powerful tools we have to combat child hunger and death,” says UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman. “The Innocenti Declaration created a movement that has helped to save millions of lives and brought us closer to the Millennium Development Goals,” she states.
According to Ms Veneman, “the achievements since the Innocenti Declaration should inspire us to do more to reach out to vulnerable mothers and children”. She praised the dedication of a vast international community of breastfeeding advocates, who have worked tirelessly to turn the promises of the Innocenti Declaration, and the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative, into action.
Breast milk gives a baby ideal nourishment during the critical first months of life, as well as vital immunity against killer diseases like pneumonia.
Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDGs) aims at reducing child mortality and it is estimated that almost one-fifth of all child deaths could be prevented and the lives of over two million children saved every year, through exclusive breastfeeding.
According to UNICEF, between 1990 and 2000, exclusive breastfeeding levels for children under six months in the developing world have increased by as much as three or fourfold in some countries. UNICEF, the WHO and other child survival partners hailed this progress as they commemorated 15 years of the adoption of the landmark Innocenti Declaration in 2005.
The International Baby Food Action Network, stresses that the Innocenti Declaration was revisited on its 15th anniversary and it was noted that much progress had been made with 20,000 hospitals in 150 countries designated baby friendly hospitals and more countries implementing the Code and Resolutions of the declaration.
The Co-ordinator for breastfeeding activities in the country and a member of Ghana Infant Nutrition Action Network, Mrs Esther Quaye-Kuma, told the Daily Graphic that this year’s National Breastfeeding Week would be launched in Mankesim in the Central Region.
She said the country has 287 baby-friendly accredited facilities and that maternity homes were also promoting early breastfeeding, but those facilities were yet to be accredited.
According to Mrs Quaye-Kuma, who is also the National Secretary of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA), surveys conducted by the Ghana Health Service and the Statistical Service indicate that exclusive breastfeeding rates in the country, were 15.6 per cent in 1993, 25.3 per cent in 1998 and 46.3 per cent in 2003.
She also said the 2008 preliminary reports indicate that exclusive breastfeeding rates increased from 54 percent the previous year to 63 percent that year.
She said breastfeeding in the first day of life, contributes significantly to improving the nutritional status of children in the first two years of life, prevent malnutrition and stunt growth, which usually have their origins in early age in life.
She said breastfeeding in particular is important not just for the duration of any emergency but have a life-long impact on a child’s life and on a woman’s future feeding decisions, stressing that breastfeeding in the first day is associated with sufficient flow of breast milk and enhances longer breastfeeding.
Global breastfeeding rates have risen, but Innocenti partners warned that lack of awareness amongst mothers, and lack of support from health workers and communities, as well as the growing number of emergencies and the continued rise of HIV/AIDS also endangers the lives of mothers and children.
The new Innocenti report published by UNICEF, WHO and other infant-feeding specialists, calls for greater government action and investment to protect exclusive breastfeeding. It also emphasises the need to support women in providing the best nourishment for their children.
Women should be encouraged to overcome all obstacles to breastfeeding including, social-cultural and economic barriers within the health system, the workplace and the community and this requires sensitivity, continued vigilance, and a responsive and comprehensive communications strategy.
Such empowerment involves the removal of constraints and influences that manipulate perceptions and behaviour towards breastfeeding, often by subtle and indirect means.
All infants should be fed exclusively on breastmilk from birth to 4-6 months of age.The governments also urgently needs to make mainstream the latest strategies for HIV positive mothers and infant-feeding into national policies.
We should be guided by the advise by the UNICEF Executive Director that “In times of crisis, the right feeding practices for children are the key to saving lives.”
THE early days of life are the most vulnerable for a child. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the risk of mortality is greatest during the first days of birth, when it is estimated that between 25 per cent and 45 per cent of neonatal deaths occur.
To improve child survival and proper growth of the child, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that babies should be exclusively breastfed from birth to six months, and then continuos breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond. Breastfeeding is the best and ideal way to provide new-borns with the nutrients they need. In addition to being more affordable than buying enriched milk formula, breast milk contains the nutrients needed by infants for healthy growth and development and is also easier for babies to digest. It is so full of nutrients that some doctors even recommend provision of breast milk to children for several years.
To protect, promote and support breastfeeding, World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1st to 7th August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies. The theme for this year’s celebration is "Breastfeeding - a vital emergency response. Are you ready?” and the national theme adopted by the Ghana Infant Nutrition Action Network, the Ghana branch of the International Baby Food Action Network, is “Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies.”
The week-long celebration is expected to highlight the need to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in emergencies for infants and young child survival, health and development. The week provides the opportunity to advocate for a simple way to save children's lives.
The celebration commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF at a meeting of governments and policy-makers from more than 30 countries in Florence, Italy, in August 1990.
The World Summit for Children endorsed the Innocenti Declaration in September 1990, and its operational targets became part of the Summit goals for the year 2000. Together, the declaration and Plan of Action of the World Summit for Children and the Convention on the Rights of the Child constitute an ambitious but feasible agenda for the well-being of children.
The declaration sets important operational targets that enjoins nations to appoint a national breastfeeding co-ordinator of appropriate authority, and establish a multi-sectoral breastfeeding committee composed of representatives from relevant government departments, non-governmental organisations, and health professional associations.
It also commits nations to ensure that every facility providing maternity services practises all 10 steps to successful breastfeeding and enact imaginative legislation protecting the breastfeeding rights of working women and established means for its enforcement.
“Exclusive breastfeeding is one of the most powerful tools we have to combat child hunger and death,” says UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman. “The Innocenti Declaration created a movement that has helped to save millions of lives and brought us closer to the Millennium Development Goals,” she states.
According to Ms Veneman, “the achievements since the Innocenti Declaration should inspire us to do more to reach out to vulnerable mothers and children”. She praised the dedication of a vast international community of breastfeeding advocates, who have worked tirelessly to turn the promises of the Innocenti Declaration, and the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative, into action.
Breast milk gives a baby ideal nourishment during the critical first months of life, as well as vital immunity against killer diseases like pneumonia.
Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDGs) aims at reducing child mortality and it is estimated that almost one-fifth of all child deaths could be prevented and the lives of over two million children saved every year, through exclusive breastfeeding.
According to UNICEF, between 1990 and 2000, exclusive breastfeeding levels for children under six months in the developing world have increased by as much as three or fourfold in some countries. UNICEF, the WHO and other child survival partners hailed this progress as they commemorated 15 years of the adoption of the landmark Innocenti Declaration in 2005.
The International Baby Food Action Network, stresses that the Innocenti Declaration was revisited on its 15th anniversary and it was noted that much progress had been made with 20,000 hospitals in 150 countries designated baby friendly hospitals and more countries implementing the Code and Resolutions of the declaration.
The Co-ordinator for breastfeeding activities in the country and a member of Ghana Infant Nutrition Action Network, Mrs Esther Quaye-Kuma, told the Daily Graphic that this year’s National Breastfeeding Week would be launched in Mankesim in the Central Region.
She said the country has 287 baby-friendly accredited facilities and that maternity homes were also promoting early breastfeeding, but those facilities were yet to be accredited.
According to Mrs Quaye-Kuma, who is also the National Secretary of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA), surveys conducted by the Ghana Health Service and the Statistical Service indicate that exclusive breastfeeding rates in the country, were 15.6 per cent in 1993, 25.3 per cent in 1998 and 46.3 per cent in 2003.
She also said the 2008 preliminary reports indicate that exclusive breastfeeding rates increased from 54 percent the previous year to 63 percent that year.
She said breastfeeding in the first day of life, contributes significantly to improving the nutritional status of children in the first two years of life, prevent malnutrition and stunt growth, which usually have their origins in early age in life.
She said breastfeeding in particular is important not just for the duration of any emergency but have a life-long impact on a child’s life and on a woman’s future feeding decisions, stressing that breastfeeding in the first day is associated with sufficient flow of breast milk and enhances longer breastfeeding.
Global breastfeeding rates have risen, but Innocenti partners warned that lack of awareness amongst mothers, and lack of support from health workers and communities, as well as the growing number of emergencies and the continued rise of HIV/AIDS also endangers the lives of mothers and children.
The new Innocenti report published by UNICEF, WHO and other infant-feeding specialists, calls for greater government action and investment to protect exclusive breastfeeding. It also emphasises the need to support women in providing the best nourishment for their children.
Women should be encouraged to overcome all obstacles to breastfeeding including, social-cultural and economic barriers within the health system, the workplace and the community and this requires sensitivity, continued vigilance, and a responsive and comprehensive communications strategy.
Such empowerment involves the removal of constraints and influences that manipulate perceptions and behaviour towards breastfeeding, often by subtle and indirect means.
All infants should be fed exclusively on breastmilk from birth to 4-6 months of age.The governments also urgently needs to make mainstream the latest strategies for HIV positive mothers and infant-feeding into national policies.
We should be guided by the advise by the UNICEF Executive Director that “In times of crisis, the right feeding practices for children are the key to saving lives.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)