Radio Progress News first radio station in the Upper West Region
Picture of Health Professionals speaking on Radio Progress (98.1 fm)
Health Professional from the Wa Municipal Health Directorate said breastfeeding for the first six months protects babies from illness, saves money, and creates a strong bond, while also revealing common cultural and personal hurdles.
According to the Health professional, exclusive breast feeding help develop the brain of a new born baby and therefore parents should practice it.
Madam Doodang Cynthia speaking on Radio Progress Health Show 11th August,2026 revealed that, exclusive breast feeding sometimes serve as a family planning method for breast feeding mothers.
“Breast feeding mothers feeding their new born babies exclusively gives them space to give birth and sometimes becomes a family planning method for most mothers after birth.”
She urged breast feeding mothers to constantly feed their new born babies with only breast milk after giving birth; adding that, breast milk can help improve the immune system of a new born baby.
The Wa based Health Professional explained that, new born babies get healthier and stronger when they have improve immune system.
Madam Dordang Cynthia also expressed worries on how most breast feeding mothers feed their new born babies with family meals like Nam 1, Cerelac and some other heavy meals; stating that, it is a bad practice and should be prohibited.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dakurah Ferdinard speaking on the show also called on breast feeding mothers to abstain from the habit of giving their new born babies water and food till the six months breast feeding period is over.
He also urged parents of new born babies to desist from feeding them with food mixed with species.
“The digestive system of a new born baby is not always strong and it cannot contain meals prepared with species and as a matter of fact, parents should not feed their new born babies with species because it will have effects on the child”. He added
Mr. Ferdinard in remarks appealed to mothers of new born babies to feed their children with either tom-brown, less weight meals like T.Z and with green leaves soup.
However, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in its mid-year and third-quarter data review released during World Breastfeeding Week, reported that Ghana’s national exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate stands at 53%. This places Ghana ahead of the global average of 43% but still short of the international 2030 target of 60%.
Regional and Performance Variations
Quarterly evaluations across different sub-national health directorates highlight profound disparities between regions and age categories:
- Ashanti Region Progress: Data shows that the exclusive breastfeeding rate for infants aged 0 to 3 months reached 83.8%. However, 19 out of the region’s 43 districts still lag below this benchmark, and early initiation targets are at 94%, narrowly missing the 95% target.
- Greater Accra Disparity: The Ghana Health Service reported that the Greater Accra region currently logs the country’s lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate at 43%.
- Rural vs. Urban Divide: Academic reviews and quarterly briefs note that rural mothers maintain a higher EBF compliance rate (55.97%) compared to urban settings (49.52%) due to stricter adherence to traditional support systems and fewer workplace disruptions.
