The District Chief Executive for Asene Manso Akroso District, Hon. Eric Ahinakwa, has donated essential items to lactating mothers in the district.
The items donated included washing powder, baby oil, wipes, sanitary pads, Tom Brown, Power Zone, Dettol, diapers, and other baby care products.
About 1,000 mothers benefited from the kind gesture.
Speaking to the media, Hon. Ahinakwa said that during his 2024 campaign, one of his key priorities was to establish a fund to cater for lactating mothers in the district.
“According to him, in countries like America, new mothers are given support to enable them to take good care of their newborns. That is the model we should also follow,” he said.
He added that after engaging the District Health Director, he was informed that August is observed as Exclusive Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
He therefore decided to use the opportunity to support the mothers.
“In the olden days in Ghana, mothers who gave birth received government support. That is no longer the case. I promise to continue supporting our mothers,” he stated.
Hon. Ahinakwa advised mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for six months, noting that it improves the child’s brain development, supports healthy growth, and reduces financial burden on families.
The District Director of Health also urged mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding, saying it helps prevent sickness in newborns and supports brain development.
She explained that exclusive breastfeeding also serves as a natural form of family planning and helps cut costs, since infant formula and other foods are expensive.
She further advised men to support their wives to enable them to breastfeed exclusively, and encouraged women to eat a balanced diet to ensure they get all the nutrients needed for themselves and their babies.
Report by Raskorsa.