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.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
‘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)