BREASTFEEDING IN GHANA IS EVERY CHILD’S FIRST RIGHT TO HEALTH

Each year, the first week of August marks World Breastfeeding Week, a global call to action to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. In Ghana, the week brings renewed attention to a practice that is simple, natural, and lifesaving, yet still underutilized. As global health advocates emphasize the role of breastfeeding in building healthier populations and stronger economies, Ghana must reflect on its progress and gaps.

Breastfeeding is the process of nourishing a child with milk produced by the mother. However, it goes beyond basic nutrition. Breast milk is specially designed to meet the unique needs of a baby, providing essential antibodies, enzymes, and nutrients that support immune function, physical growth, and brain development. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding along with safe complementary foods up to two years and beyond.

For the child, the benefits of breastfeeding are profound. It reduces the risk of diarrhea, pneumonia, and malnutrition, which remain leading causes of under-five mortality in Ghana. It also lowers the chances of obesity and chronic diseases later in life. Breastfed children are more likely to reach healthy developmental milestones, and studies show long-term cognitive advantages linked to breastfeeding. For the mother, breastfeeding supports postpartum recovery, reduces the risk of certain cancers, and strengthens the emotional bond between mother and baby. It is also economically beneficial, saving families and health systems the cost of infant formula and illness treatment.

Yet despite the clear evidence, breastfeeding practices in Ghana show room for improvement. According to the 2019 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), about 56 percent of newborns are breastfed within the first hour of birth. This is known as early initiation and is crucial for newborn survival. The first milk, colostrum, is rich in antibodies and helps protect the baby from infections. Still, nearly half of Ghana’s babies miss out on this critical first step, often due to cultural practices, delivery complications, or lack of skin-to-skin contact between mother and child after birth.

Equally concerning is the decline in exclusive breastfeeding rates. Only 43 percent of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, falling short of the global target of 50 percent by 2025. In many communities, traditional beliefs promote the early introduction of water or herbal mixtures. In urban areas, mothers returning to work, often in informal jobs without maternity protection, are forced to stop breastfeeding earlier than recommended. Even within health facilities, not all mothers receive the support they need to initiate and sustain breastfeeding.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS), with support from partners like UNICEF, continues to advocate for better breastfeeding practices. National strategies such as the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and the Infant and Young Child Feeding Policy are steps in the right direction. However, implementation challenges remain, especially in reaching rural and underserved communities.

As Ghana joins the rest of the world in observing World Breastfeeding Week, there is a timely opportunity to renew the commitment to protecting this foundational practice. Public education campaigns must go beyond health facilities and into homes and communities. Health workers need ongoing training to support mothers not just clinically, but with compassion and encouragement. National policies must evolve to provide better maternity protection, including support for breastfeeding mothers in informal work settings.

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective investments a country can make to protect the health and well-being of its children and mothers. In Ghana, where preventable child illness and malnutrition remain serious public health concerns, protecting breastfeeding is not optional; it is essential. The gains are immediate and long-lasting. As World Breastfeeding Week reminds us, the power to nourish, protect, and give children the best start in life already exists in the arms of every mother.