Desist from smoking and drinking to avoid childhood disability- Pregnant women urged

18-03-2011
Narration: Women across the country have been cautioned against un-subscribed drug intake as well as smoking and drinking during pregnancy to prevent their unborn children from acquiring various forms of disability. Consequently pregnant women should make it imperative to frequently attend antenatal care at the various health facilities to help reduce the risk of disabilities during birth. The Upper East Programmes Coordinator Prevention of Childhood Disability, Majolein Meande Baltussen gave the advice at a community sensitization durbar held for the chiefs and people of Avosum, a farming community in the Garu-Tempane District of the Upper East Region. Here is report by Isaac Asare.
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Report
The event which was jointly organized under the Presbyterian Disability Programme of the Northern Presbytery, Bolgatanga and the Presbyterian Community Based Rehabilitation for Persons with Disability in Garu, forms part of measures aimed at preventing childhood disability in the region and Ghana in general. Addressing participants, Ms Baltussen disclosed that 75 percent of various childhood disabilities are preventable and therefore emphasized the need for women in pregnancy to take precautionary measures to ensure safe and skilled delivery devoid of disability. To her most children are being born with impairments which are caused by preventable problems during pregnancy or during childbirth whilst others acquire impairments during their early childhood due to trauma or disease. According to her, neglect and mismanagement of these childhood impairments could lead to lifelong disabilities hence the need for pregnant women to desist from negativities that could affect their unborn babies. To that effect, Ms Baltussen advised pregnant women make it a habit of delivering at the health facilities since most Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAS) lacks the basic tools, knowledge and practical skills to deal with complications during child birth. The activities of such unprofessional she noted contribute to childhood deformity and should not be condoned in any way. Specific steps with focus on early intervention in the prevention of childhood disability is the key to achieving good outcomes and explained that certain health problems when addressed quickly may nor result to impairment or a lifelong disability among children. She said children born out of disability should not be regarded as spirit children but should be rather accepted into the society to help promote inclusion at the community level. Ms Baltesuun advised pregnant women to stick to healthy lifestyles by taking iodized salts and local fruits and vegetables such as dawadawa, mangoes, amani and eggs to help ensure safre delivery. She also encouraged them to send their children to the health clinics to be immunized against the six killer diseases as a way of preventing childhood disability. The District Disease Control Officer, Thomas Atugba Abugbilla, took the opportunity to remind parents to prepare their children for immunization against polio which according to him would begin on March 24 nationwide. Mr. Abugbilla also encouraged the men to support in that regard since they play a vital role in the prevention of childhood disability. He urged them to assist their wives in times of pregnancy and should not subject them to practices that could lead to complications during delivery. Chiefs on the other hands were also advised to join in the awareness creation on the need to prevent childhood disability in their communities.
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