The Ghana Health Service has urged on corporate firms to establish baby-friendly corners to promote Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF).
On Monday, to begin World Breastfeeding Week, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Director-General, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, affirmed that Ghana had made significant strides in promoting breastfeeding.
The GHS notes that Ghana currently leads the sub-region in breastfeeding with 52 percent.
However, the last Ghana Demographic and Health Survey indicates that both exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding rates have stagnated.
Dr. Nsiah-Asare attributed the stagnation to the work environment not being receptive towards breastfeeding, poor support from spouses and family members, harmful and sometimes aggressive actions by the business sector especially the infant food and breast-milk substitute companies, and other factors.
He called on all stakeholders to help enforce the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
“The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk substitute describes the restrictions on marketing activities needed to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, and end the inappropriate promotion of breastmilk substitutes. We all must ensure that women’s rights are protected from harmful interference by the business sector,” said the Director-General.
He added that the GHS with support from its partners (WHO, UNICEF, and the likes) would engage corporate organizations and MDAs on the need to establish baby-friendly corners within their organizations and call for a review of the current law on the marketing and distribution of breastmilk substitutes to curb the ongoing violations.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citinewsroom.com/Ghana