Nana Akwasi Agyeman is hot … Assembly wants him removed
Four Saga officials picked for questioning
Nkoranza assembly endorses nominee
1.2m Ghanaians to get AIDS by 2000?
Adontenhene pleads for time to withdraw cases from court
Stop paying lip service to environmental issues - Minister tells Assemblies
Rawlings congratulates victorious Boon
A comprehensive tracking System for State-Owned Organisations
Ghana and UN Food and Agriculture signs $336,000 agreement
Kwesi Pratt calls for probe into "crimes against humanity"
Africa's new initiatives will focus on women - UNDP
100 million people to die from smoking - WHO
President appoints new MD for Consolidated Diamonds Limited
Afram Plains short of teachers
Snake bite perennial condition in the Afram Plains
Rawlings expresses concern about soldiers' food
Allow nursing mothers to breastfeed at work - Dentist
Nana Akwasi Agyeman is hot … Assembly wants him removed
Kumasi (Ashanti), 28th May 99 --
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has passed a vote of no confidence in Nana Akwasi Agyeman, the Metropolitan Chief Executive and has called for his immediate removal from office.
A resolution signed by 46 out of the 86-member assembly to the President and copied to the press in Kumasi on Thursday accused the Metropolitan Chief Executive among other things of undermining the government's decentralisation programme.
It said, "going by his avowed declaration not to work with the new concept, Nana Akwasi Agyeman over the years has been administering the KMA as he so wishes".
This, the resolution said is evident from the fact that since the inauguration of the assembly in August 1998, its executive committee has never met and so have been the various committees and sub-district structures, which
are to complement the decentralised structures of the new local government system.
Besides, "decisions taken by the assembly are not implemented by the Metropolitan Chief Executive", it added, citing a resolution passed by the assembly in August 1998 to elect chairmen of the four Kumasi Sub-Metropolitan Councils, which has still not been done to support this assertion.
The resolution said since the inception of the present assembly, the KMA has not been able to draw up proper budget and that this has created serious financial problems.
The result is that the Metropolitan Chief Executive has been drawing monies from the development account for recurrent expenditure, adding, "there has not been any preparation of trial balance, no fee fixing and, therefore, revenue mobilisation has become paralysed".
The resolution also touched on what it sees as lack of transparency in the award of contracts, pointing out that the KMA has no tender board.
It stated that the Metropolitan Chief Executive has been awarding contracts to his friends and cronies without prior approval of the assembly.
It was also critical of the issue of numerous unpaid contracts, which invariably undermine the capacity to execute new projects on time.
The resolution further accused Nana Agyeman of misapplying the KMA's share of the Common Fund "to suit his whims and caprices", adding, "there has not yet been any utilisation of its poverty alleviation fund as directed by the government".
Meetings of the assembly have also been irregular and that the Metropolitan Chief Executive conducts and directs most of the official duties from his house, a situation, that has created lapses in the day-to-day administration of the Metropolis.
It was unhappy with what it said is the intimidation of the staff of the KMA with threats of dismissals and transfers and in some instances physical assault on some officials of the assembly.
Vehicles meant for the day-to-day administration of the assembly, have been turned into family vehicles and are permanently parked in his house, the resolution said, pointing out that a green pick-up meant for revenue
mobilisation for example, has been placed at the disposal of his wives and children.
"Mr President, you know too well that management of a city like Kumasi goes far beyond refuse collection. Nana Akwasi Agyeman's profound interest in refuse collection is that, that is the area through which he siphons KMA's resources for his personal riches and aggrandisement".
The resolution said their action is in accordance with the Local Government standing orders for district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies in Ghana, which state "that one-third of the membership of the assembly by a resolution
can call for the removal from office of a chief executive".
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Four Saga officials picked for questioning
Tema (Greater Accra), 28th May '99 -
The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) on Thursday picked up four officials of Saga Ghana Limited, a shipping company, for questioning over seven kilograms of cocaine discovered in a container at the Tema port last Tuesday.
A source close to the Tema Port named the four officials as Mr Emmanuel Thompson-Addo, deputy general manager for finance and administration, Mr Ken Arthur, shipping manager, Mr Cornelius Sannies, Nedlloyd shipping manager, and Mr J.T.B. Addison, import and claims manager.
The source said the four officials were picked up at about mid-day today and sent to Accra.
Their arrest was the result of an order by Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Minister for National Security, for the arrest of the management of Saga Limited for investigations into the importation of the drugs and some vehicles into the country.
Customs and Security agents, acting on a tip-off on Tuesday, intercepted a 20-footer container shipped from Surinam to Carl Hans import and export company at Accra North. The drugs were found buried in some bags of rice in the container.
Nobody has come forward to claim the container, which contained 390 bags of rice, since it was discharged at the Tema Port on March 28, this year.
Saga serves as agents for "CMBT Asia", the ship which brought the container of rice. According to the ship's manifest, the shipper of the container was F.O.
Lachman of Sugro Export, N.W. Charlesburgweg, number 117, Paramaribe, Surinam.
Another source at the Customs headquarters in Accra told the GNA that Saga has been under investigations over some stolen cars brought into the country from Canada and the USA since the company serves as agents for the ships which brought the cars.
At present about 12 expensive American and German cars seized by Customs are at the customs headquarters.
Mr Emmanuel Thompson-Addo, Saga's deputy general manager, told the GNA earlier in the day that SAGA as a company is innocent, but he did not rule out the involvement of individual employees.
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Nkoranza assembly endorses nominee
Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo), 28th May 99 -
The Nkoranza District Assembly has endorsed the President's nomination of Mr Joshua Ankomah, 44, as District Chief Executive. He polled 48 votes representing 82.75 per cent of the 58 votes cast with 10 votes against.
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Donald Adabre, commended the members for the orderly and peaceful manner they voted and said their endorsement of Mr Ankomah, a depot manager of the City Express Bus Service, is a demonstration of their loyalty to the President.
He asked them to unite and to assist the new DCE to implement policies and programmes of the assembly.
Mr Adabre reminded members of the non-partisan nature of the district assembly and said it must be maintained to promote the effective exchange of ideas to enhance development.
Mr Ankomah thanked the assembly for the confidence reposed in him and called for support to develop the district.
The district has been without a DCE since the removal of Mr Douglas Adje-Kuffour, from office about a year ago.
The people rejected the President's first nominee, Mr Kwabena Anane-Agyei, before even voting on his nomination.
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1.2m Ghanaians to get AIDS by 2000?
Nnudu (Eastern Region), 28th May 99 -
It is estimated that 1.2 million Ghanaians are likely to be HIV positive by the year 2000 and that one out of every 20 Ghanaians may be carrying the HIV virus.
Mrs Mageret Novichi, Director, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), gave the figures at a seminar on HIV/AIDS and related diseases that affect the health of women at Nnudu-Akwamu in the Asuogyaman district on Thursday.
It was organised by the National Council for Women and Development (NCWD) in collaboration with Nnudu Progressive Women's Movement (PWM), an NGO that aims at sensitising rural women on their sexual and reproductive life.
Mrs Novichi said in Africa, people between the ages 15 - 35 stand the greatest risk of getting HIV adding, "it is quiet prevalent among women".
"What makes it disturbing is that 18.5 million would be carrying the virus and more than 5 million would fully develop AIDs through out the world by the turn of the century".
She said AIDs is real, knows no boundaries and does not discriminate hence the concern to combat it by practicing safe sex such as using condoms as well as keeping faithful partners.
Mrs Molley Anim-Addo, chairperson of NCWD told the participants that menopause is not a sickness but a change usually experienced by women when they attain the age of 40 and above and menstruation ceases.
Mrs Anim-Addo said symptoms that are associated with it are frequent annoyance, tiredness, sweat and frustration among others and appealed to husbands and society to be show understanding.
She asked mothers to breast-feed their babies because it is inexpensive and practical to enhance their health.
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Adontenhene pleads for time to withdraw cases from court
Kumasi (Ashanti), 28th May '99 --
Nana Agyeman Nkwantabisa III, Adontenhene of Ashanti on Thursday agreed to withdraw cases he has filed against the Golden Stool and the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) from the courts, when he appeared before the council at the instance of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene.
He, however, asked to be given one month to complete the formalities for the withdrawal of the cases.
He said Mr Obeng Manu the counsel, who was handling one of the cases, had died and he would need to engage the services of another lawyer to deal with the process of withdrawal.
The other case, Nana Nkwantabisa said was also being handled by Mr Adumoah-Bossman, who is based in Accra and would, therefore, need time to also consult him for the necessary steps to be taken.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu asked why he had not been attending KTC meetings since he was enthroned.
Nana Nkwantabisa said he was barred from taking his place at KTC meetings and other functions at Manhyia by the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II about 23 years ago over a land case.
Nana Nkwantabisa said in addition to being barred, he received two letters from the late Asantehene to the effect that his stool lands at Aputuogya in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma district and Amampe in the Kwabre district have been vested in the Golden Stool.
He said when he received those letters he was surprised but since he did not have access to Manhyia to meet the late Asantehene to have the matter thrashed out peacefully, he wrote to the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware asking for clarification but he did not get a reply.
The Adontenhene said he then realised that if he did not act, he was going to lose his stool lands and so he instituted the court action against the Golden Stool and the KTC.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu assured the Adontenhene that he would have very fair and impartial hearing, when the cases come before him and should, therefore, get them withdrawn by the stipulated time to ensure peace and harmony.
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Stop paying lip service to environmental issues - Minister tells Assemblies
Accra (Greater Accra), 28th May '99 -
Mr Cletus Avoka, Minister of Environment Science and Technology, on Thursday asked district assemblies to stop paying lip service to environmental issues and incorporate them in their budgets for implementation.
Speaking to journalists on activities earmarked for the celebration of World Environment Day in Accra, Mr Avoka said district assemblies do not usually include environmental programmes in their projects. ''But such issues should be seen as a shared responsibility with partners who have their respective roles to play''.
The national theme for this year's celebration, which falls on June five, is ''Our Earth, Our Future - Just Save It''.
Mr Avoka noted that neither his ministry nor the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can solve all the environmental issues, and their role should be seen as co-ordinators or facilitators.
''Within the country, this will involve working with the judiciary, parliamentarians, government ministries, district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies, the private sector, media, religious and traditional organisations, women, youth and research institutions''.
He therefore called on journalists to write more features on the environment, not only on negative impact but also on the positive actions that individuals, communities and institutions are doing.
Government on its part has over the years taken steps to ensure that the country develops on a sustainable basis and now need to create awareness through the dissemination of information, education and the use of communication channels to reach all sections of the Ghanaian community.
Answering a question on the disposal of medical waste, Dr Peter Acquah, Executive Director of EPA, said a committee made up of health officials and experts on the subject are working towards finding proper ways of disposing of biomedical waste in the country.
He said deliberations on the disposal of radio active waste, such as x'ray films, are on course, and this would involve the private sector.
Activities lined up for the Day include clean-up exercises by second cycle schools, churches, NGOs and security agencies.
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Rawlings congratulates victorious Boon
Accra (Greater Accra), 28th May '99 -
President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday sent a message of congratulations to Mrs Alice Boon, the newly elected National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Lambussie constituency in the Upper West Region.
A statement issued in Accra said the President wishes her well and expressed the hope that she will continue to champion the aspirations of the people of Lambussie and contribute further to the development and progress of the area.
President Rawlings also congratulated Mr Anthony Baloro and Mr Franklin Ketting, defeated New Patriotic Party (NPP) and People's National Congress (PNC) candidates, for putting up a good fight.
The President expressed the hope that they will support Mrs Boon to bring about unity and development in Lambussie and the country as a whole.
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A comprehensive tracking System for State-Owned Organisations
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May '99
Commander P.M.G. Griffiths, Deputy Minister of Communications, on Thursday said his ministry will this week set up a comprehensive tracking system that will monitor State-Owned Organisations (SOEs) that are Y2K compliant.
The list of the SOEs are currently being compiled in which they would be rated from levels 1 to 6 and will be hosted by the close of the week, he said.
Speaking on "The Significance of the Year 2000 Bug Problem for Your Organisation," Cdr. Griffiths said it is important for SOEs to be compliant in order not to make government operations, activities and their relationships impossible.
He urged them to ensure that they update their systems by September 30, after which a contingency plan will be put in place to test the compliance of their systems.
He said government is looking at the issue by prioritising critical areas such as the Tema Oil Refinery, Electricity Company of Ghana, Financial Sector, Water and Sewerage and the telecommunications industry.
Cdr Griffiths said Ghana, considered a low IT (Intermediate Technology) user, has an advantage to make sure that it is in line with the latest trends of the IT industry.
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Ghana and UN Food and Agriculture signs $336,000 agreement.
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May '99
Ghana and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have signed 336,000-dollar project agreement on the Water Component of the Special Programme for food security.
The project covers the period 1999 to 2001, the cost of which is to be borne under the FAO's regular budget as part of its Technical Co-operation Programme (TCP).
Mr John Owusu-Acheampong, Minister of Food and Agriculture, and Mr Bamidele F. Dada, Assistant Director-General of the FAO, signed for Ghana and the United Nations Organisation respectively on Thursday, in Accra.
The agreement was the result of a request Ghana made to FAO and the objective is to enable government "to bring substantial improvement to hitherto food insecure rural households..."
This will be done "through reducing the dependence on food importation mainly of commodities with the advantage of producing locally, creating awareness for the use of water in agriculture and focusing on simple and inexpensive technologies".
Mr Dada who is also FAO Africa Regional Representative, said if Africa is to achieve food security then irrigation should be accorded the support it needs.
Mr Dada said only a total of 10,000 hactares of land have been irrigated and there are a lot of potential to be gained from irrigation.
He said FAO has agreed to Ghana's request to include Chinese experts in FAO Ghana country programmes.
Responding, Mr Owusu-Acheampong said farmers have largely depended on rain-fed agriculture and that the country has plans to increase irrigated land from 10,000 hectares to 100,000 by the year 2020.
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Kwesi Pratt calls for probe into "crimes against humanity"
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May '99
Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Managing Editor of "Weekly Insight" and a Human Rights Activist, on Thursday expressed regret about the inability of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and Parliament to investigate "crimes against humanity" in the country.
He said the 1992 constitution means little or nothing to the perpetrators of these crimes.
At a press conference in Accra he said between December 1981 and December 1984, "as many as 246 Ghanaians" were "butchered".
Mr Pratt Jnr said he wrote to CHRAJ in 1993 requesting it to "investigate extra-judicial killings under PNDC rule", but the Commission wrote back to say that it could not carry out the investigation.
He said CHRAJ said this is because its powers were limited by the 1992 constitution and that he, Mr Pratt Jnr, was not a member of any of the families of the alleged victims.
Mr Pratt said he also complained to the then IGP, Mr J.Y Kwofie ,who promised that the police would take up the matter, but nothing came out of it.
He said the time had come for a more militant action to press home the demand for a full-scale enquiry into the matter.
"If government fails to act, we will be compelled to mobilise the masses on an unprecedented scale in support of the call for a probe."
Mr Pratt said the government must understand that Ghanaians will continue to insist on knowing the full facts of the crimes to ensure that justice is done to all.
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Half-Assini (Western Region) 28 May '99
The chief of Half-Assini, Nana Ayebie Amihere the fifth, has appealed to the president Jerry John Rawlings to take immediate action to end the mounting tension in Half Assini over moves to remove the district chief executive from office.
Nana Amihere who made the appeal after an emergency meeting with his council of elders said there could be bloodshed if nothing is done immediately to stem it.
He said a group of people calling themselves "Cambodians" on Wednesday evening stormed the town and started firing indiscriminately.
He said the local police are helpless and the situation is getting out of hand. The chief said tension started mounting at Half-Assini on May 25 after a special meeting of the Jomoro district assembly discuss a resolution by 28 members calling for the removal of the District Chief Executive, Mr Thomas Kwesi.
Mr Daniel Osei, Superintendent of police in-charge of the district descried the situation in the town describing it as disturbing and uncalled for.
He said the police have decided not to issue any permits for demonstrations and public gatherings in Half-Assini.
The police will however provide security at the assembly's meeting tomorrow, Friday, to ensure peace and order, he said.
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Africa's new initiatives will focus on women - UNDP
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May '99
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said in Accra on Thursday that its new initiative for Africa will focus on women and the youth as well as economic empowerment for all.
"The UNDP is determined to prepare African women for the next millennium as partners in sustainable human development," Dr Kingsley Fletcher, the newly appointed Special Adviser to the UNDP Director for Africa, told Journalists.
Dr Fletcher, a Ghanaian-American who is on a tour of Africa, said much cannot be achieved in fostering sustainable human development in Africa without a dramatic improvement in the status of women and the opening up of economic opportunities to them.
"In any case, they are in majority so we have to be strategic about promoting the woman to really empower them as active participants in the development process," he said.
To him, access to fuller education and skill training, resources including land and eliminating harmful cultural practices which subjugate women are the hurdles to be cleared for African women.
On the youth, Dr Fletcher said UNDP will support efforts to change the mindset of the African youth by raising the awareness of the youth to an international level which will pave the way to partnerships among the peoples of the world for prosperity.
"We need to create opportunities for the youth to fulfil their aspirations on the African Continent rather than being hopeful outside of it."
Dr Fletcher said the biggest challenge facing Africa today is not the governments or policies, but the thinking process of Africans.
"If we are able to change the way we think, we will then perceive reality. We should not imprison ourselves in our mindset.
"...Our youth need a strong vision for a prosperous future," Dr Fletcher said of the new challenge confronting the UNDP Africa's new initiative.
The new Director also touched on finding lasting resolutions to the numerous conflicts bedevilling Africa on the eve of the new millennium.
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100 million people to die from smoking - WHO
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May '99
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday said tobacco would kill more than 100 million people in the first two decades of the 21st century.
It, therefore, recommended as a matter of urgency the enactment of legislation and promotion of effective tobacco control through education.
The world health body said there is need for urgent international and national action to restrict the spread of tobacco use to reduce its harmful effects on society.
This is contained in a statement released in Accra by WHO ahead of the World-No-Tobacco Day on May 31.
The statement noted that tobacco is fast becoming a greater cause of death and disability than any single disease and is a known or probable cause of some 25 different diseases.
These include lung cancer, bronchitis and emphysema. Tobacco consumption has been explicitly linked to the high incidence and gravity of cardiac disease.
WHO has decided to focus attention and resources on tobacco use to prevent at least some of these predictable deaths.
"Tobacco and smoke concern us all, smokers and non-smokers alike. Tobacco is everybody's problem. It is a major health issue that demands urgent action now," the statement said.
WHO recommended comprehensive tobacco control strategies through legislation and education such as banning all tobacco advertisements and promotion, establishing smoke-free public places and providing tobacco use cessation programmes.
The statement said governments should rank treatment of tobacco users as an important public health priority.
Health care systems should also offer practical interventions to all tobacco users, regardless of economic level, age and sex.
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President appoints new MD for Consolidated Diamonds Limited
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May '99
President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday appointed Mr Godfried Boadu Solomon, a 53-year-old mining engineer as Acting Managing Director of the Ghana Consolidated Diamond (GCD) Limited at Akwatia.
A statement issued from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, signed by Mr.
Michael Agyeman, an official of the ministry, said Mr Boadu Solomon has a long association with the Ghana Consolidated Diamonds Limited before this appointment.
Until the appointment, Mr Boadu Solomon was the Managing Director of MINMEC Consult, a firm engaged in consultancy services in mining exploration, processing and machinery.
Mr Boadu Solomon who is a member of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, holds a Master of Science degree in Mineral Production Management from the Imperial College, UK.
According to the statement, he joined the GCD as plant supervisor in 1974 and rose through the ranks to become Mines Manager before resigning in 1995 to establish his own mining consultancy.
He worked with several mining companies including the State Gold Mining corporation at Prestea the statement said.
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Afram Plains short of teachers
Donkorkrom (Eastern Region) 28 May ’99
The Afram Plains district in the Eastern Region has only 218 trained teachers instead of the minimum 864 required to man the 147 primary schools.
Similarly, 46 junior secondary schools (JSS) in the area are being handled by 216 teachers.
Inadequate number of teachers and poor road network which compels parents to rely on the their children to sell their farm produce on market days are other problems hindering the development of education in the district.
Lt-Col. Lord Safo, District Chief Executive (DCE), announced this when he took his turn at the Meet-The-Press series organised by the Eastern regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association at Donkorkrom yesterday.
He conceded that the district is still far from attaining qualitative education compared to other districts, but gave the assurance that the assembly is committed to improving the situation through the institution of scholarships for brilliant but needy senior secondary school (SSS) students, the construction of school blocks and collaborating with non-governmental organisations in the field.
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Snake bite perennial condition in the Afram Plains
Donkorkrom (Eastern Region) 28 May ’99
Snake bites have been identified as a perennial condition in the Afram Plains in the Eastern Region.
The peak of the bites is the dry season, when the people, mostly yam farmers, are harvesting their produce. Fishermen also get bitten during fishing expeditions.
The district director of health Services, Dr Augustine Ankuvie, who disclosed this yesterday at Donkorkrom during the fourth regional "Meet the Press" series, could not, however, give the number of people who die from snake bites immediately, but said "quite a number die annually."
The situation is not due to distance from the hospital, which has adequate anti-snake serum, but to ignorance and delay on the part of victims in reporting to the hospital,he explain.
Dr Ankuvie also attributed the problem to the cost of treatment which, he said, is very expensive, considering the income levels of the people in the area. On the other hand, the people believe in traditional medicine as a cure for the bites.
He said the prevalence of the guinea worm disease in the district is not due to lack of potable water but rather, to "importation" from other endemic districts by some migrant farmers.
Dr Ankuvie noted that, ante-natal attendance by pregnant women has increased to about 2,000 a month in the four ante-natal centres in the district since the introduction of the free ante-natal care by the government last year.
He said ante-natal attendance used to be a major problem in the district, and this led to complications during child delivery.
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Rawlings expresses concern about soldiers' food
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May ’99
President Jerry John Rawlings on Wednesday expressed concern about the quality of and quantity of food rations being provided for soldiers.
A statement signed by Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications in Accra, at a meeting with Service and Formation Commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces, the President attributed the situation to the abuses in the supply and requisitioning of food items supplied by contractors.
He described the reports, which, he said, have been confirmed by the Military Intelligence as unacceptable and called for a stop to it.
He asked service chiefs to bring to book all those involved in such irresponsible actions as they undermine the solidarity of the military institution and weaken morale.
Among other issues raised at the meeting were impropriety in the supply and allocation of fuel and petroleum products as well as allegations that some soldiers were involved in the theft and sale of arms.
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Allow nursing mothers to breastfeed at work - Dentist
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 28 May ’99
A member of the National Council on Women and Development has expressed the need for the establishment of creches in all workplaces, especially where women are mostly employed.
This will enable nursing mothers who resume work before six months of delivery to breastfeed their babies at short intervals.
Dr Charllote Abaka, a dentist and former chairperson of the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD), made the call when Manhyia Polyclinic in Kumasi was designated as baby-friendly.
She said exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life has now been accepted world-wide as the best way to ensure the total well-being and healthy development of babies.
Dr Abaka said however, working mothers by the 12 weeks of maternity leave do not have ample time to breastfeed their babies optimally which, it is feared, does not help babies.
"It is, therefore, gratifying that the Ghana labour code is being re-written" she said, and expressed the hope that this would rectify certain anomalies in favour of the reproductive life of women.
She reminded women that breastfeeding is the only time during which the mother shows affection to the baby and this ensures a psychological bond between the woman and the child.
The Manhyia Polyclinic with a maternity wing organises Post- and ante-natal care for expectant and lactating mothers and records 25-30 births every month.
For the past five years, it has been successfully promoting exclusive breastfeeding for mothers through the establishment of support groups which comprise mothers who, through house-to-house visits, encourage women to breastfeed and solve all problems relating to breastfeeding.
Now that it has been declared baby friendly, it runs a breastfeeding counselling centre at its out-patient department.
It has, in addition, adopted a breastfeeding policy which includes educating mothers to breastfeed after half an hour of delivery, allowing mothers and babies to be together for 24 hours and showing mothers how to lactate and maintain breastfeeding.
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