The Child Protection Alliance Ghana (CPA Ghana) has observed that poor nutrition during the early stages of life can lead to extensive and irreversible damage to the physical growth and brain development of children.

The poor and sub-optimal breastfeeding practice, CPA Ghana noted, puts babies at a higher risk of compromised health and malnutrition, which has the potential of increasing infant illnesses and death.

At a ceremony in Sunyani to mark this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, the Interim Steering Committee Chairperson of CPA Ghana, Hussein Rahman, emphasised that breastfeeding is the ideal way of feeding babies, since it offers them the nutrients they need in the right balance, as well as protection against diseases.

From August 1 to 7, every year, World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated to highlight the huge benefits that breastfeeding brings to both the health and welfare of babies, as well as a wider push for maternal health, focusing on good nutrition, poverty reduction and food security.

Mr Rahman said a study has shown that longer breastfeeding reduces the risk of overweight or obesity by 13%, helping to fight chronic diseases caused by obesity.

He explained that intensifying awareness on breastfeeding is not just the sole responsibility of a woman, but a collective general responsibility that should be shared by all.

He announced that CPA Ghana has started implementing a 2-year breastfeeding initiative coded “Breastfeeding Community Project” (BCP).

The project, he noted aims at offering a free breastfeeding support centre with up to date knowledge and guidance for breastfeeding mothers, stating “this will encourage them to breastfeed their babies for longer periods, increasing the breastfeeding rate in the project beneficiary communities”.

The Chairperson of CPA Ghana further said the project will inform people about the importance of protecting breastfeeding and engage with individuals and organizations for greater impact.

The project will also educate mothers on exclusive breastfeeding until babies are six months old, and continue breastfeeding along with nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, until age two years old or beyond.

Child Protection Alliance Ghana (CPA Ghana), is a network of a group of like-minded Civil Society Organisations with the aim of championing child protection related activities in Ghana.

The Alliance is made up of 12 registered CSOs across the country that works to promote children’s rights and governance in a wide range of areas.

This year's World Breastfeeding Week Celebration is themed “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility”.