Helping moms & babies in Ghana
You are changing the lives of moms and babies. Here’s how.
The Need
Of the 5.2 million children who die around the world each year, 75 per cent die in the first year of life. Babies are at risk of death due to premature birth complications, complications during childbirth, infections, pneumonia and diarrhea. But this is preventable. With training and support, moms in poverty can be empowered to raise healthy and happy babies.
Our Response
Critical care
Your support helps secure access to pre- and postnatal care, skilled birth attendants and medical intervention when necessary.
Home-based care
Mothers are visited in their homes monthly by a Survival specialist, who offers education in prenatal care and early child-rearing as well as one-on-one biblical mentoring.
Group-based learning
At these church-based activities, moms learn skills to earn an income and gain vital knowledge including basic literacy, the importance of breastfeeding and how to prevent malnutrition and disease. These groups combat isolation through a supportive community of mothers who, together, learn about the God who loves them.
Ghana Stats
| Average number of children in household | 4 |
| Average age of first-time mothers | 17 |
| Births attended by skilled health personnel | 46 |
| Stunted growth from malnutrition | 14 |
Activities
Disease prevention: At the Adaklu Waya Surivval program, a community nurse educated moms on malaria and demonstrated prevention techniques such as how to properly fix a mosquito net to protect their families. Staff also taught moms about breast cancer, including risk factors, symptoms and the importance of self-examinations and regular checkups to promote early detection. Moms in the Adaklu Ablornu Survival program learned the importance of immunizations to prevent disease. All moms and babies in the programs received complete health screenings.
Parenting education: Moms in the Atimpoku program learned the importance of bonding with their children to foster healthy relationships and how to choose the best parenting styles for their families. Those who needed it received individual counselling to help address challenges in their parenting journeys. Local health workers taught moms the importance of family planning so they can make informed decisions. Moms also learned about birthing options and available medical support during labour and delivery.
Spiritual support: Moms attended Bible studies led by Survival implementers and local pastors. Caregivers received discipleship and were encouraged to deepen their faith and relationship with God through Bible reading, prayer and fellowship with one another.
Nutrition training: Program staff taught moms how to prepare nutritious meals for their families. Moms also learned the importance of breastfeeding to promote their babies’ health and development. At the Adaklu Waya Survival Program, a nutritionist provided moms with training on child nutrition, followed by individual consultations based on each child’s health record book.
Skills training: Moms at the Adaklu Ablornu Survival Program learned how to make skin powder, beaded flip-flops, pastry, laundry detergent and liquid soap. One mom in the Adaklu Waya Survival Program was trained and equipped in agriculture and the moms helped harvest okra, which is highly valuable. A mom in the Adaklu Waya Survival Program was equipped with a commercial grade hair dryer for her hair salon. Moms also learned how to save for the future. Skills training has increased caregivers’ self-confidence and many have started their own businesses.
Home visits: Staff visited moms at home to offer personalized lessons such as proper diaper changing, hygiene and early stimulation exercises to enhance child development. These visits reinforced best practices for keeping babies healthy and encouraged caregivers to continue developmental activities at home.
Project Stats
This intervention addressed:
| Full-term births | 15 |
| Illness subc: Respiratory Tract Infection | 1 |
| Breastfeeding Moms | 13 |
| Malnourished Babies - Severely Underweight | 69 |
| Attended births | 16 |
| Premature births | 3 |
| Malnourished Babies - Moderately Underweight | 67 |
| Normal birth weights | 15 |
| Low birth weights | 3 |
ReportA message from a pastor
I am Reverend Kwaku, writing to you on behalf of the Atimpoku Survival Program located in the Eastern region of Ghana. I am the minister in charge of the Emmanuel Methodist Church and I want to express my deepest gratitude for your steadfast support in attending to the needs of the participants at our centre. Your compassion and dedication have ensured that the children and mothers in our care receive essential interventions and medical attention. Thanks to your efforts, maternal and child mortality rates have significantly decreased within our operational community.
Caregivers have received training in financial literacy, management skills and preparation of complementary food for children. Children are enjoying the food, and even those who had difficulty with solid foods are now eating well. Two caregivers have turned this training into a small-scale business by preparing and selling food in the market.
Additionally, two other caregivers have learned valuable skills in beauty and makeup which is helping them manage their homes and finances effectively. These initiatives are helping the caregivers become economically self-sufficient and is contributing to their financial independence.
We have also witnessed an increase in the numerical strength of our church. Some of the caregivers who were not attending church have been discipled and led to accept Jesus Christ, and they have joined the local church and other branches of the church.
Our major challenge is that the community is a transit community, where people migrate from different towns and villages to come and sell their goods and wares. This makes it challenging for us to maintain stable participation and ensure all the participants have a comprehensive and successful completion of the program. Nonetheless, we do our best to ensure that as many participants as possible benefit from the programming.
I pray that Almighty God strengthens you, causes your businesses to grow from grace to grace and grants you good health as you to continue to inspire this generation.
May God continue to protect, bless, guide and watch over you.
Sincerely,
ReportA message from those your gift helped
I am Sabira, caregiver of Inaya, who is a beneficiary of the Emmanuel Methodist Child and Youth Development Centre located in Atimpoku, within the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region of Ghana. On behalf of all participants, I, Sabira, am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your generous support through the Survival program. Your sponsorship has truly been life-changing for my family and me.
This program has made an incredible impact on our lives. Through the various skills training sessions, I have learned valuable skills such as baby food preparation, pastry preparation, proper nutrition, practising personal hygiene and how to care for my child in ways that promote both good health and development.
These trainings have not only empowered me with knowledge but have also built my confidence as a mother and a caregiver. Before I joined the Survival program, paying my two children’s school fees and feeding them three times a day was a challenge. I struggled to get our daily bread. So, I took the training on pastries very seriously, and now that is what I am doing for a living as a petty trader. Due to this, I can feed my children and pay the school fees for my elderly two children. I did not have any idea of how to plan my family, but through the program, I was able to convince my husband, and I have now signed up for proper family planning. I am glad I can now work and take good care of my family.
Another meaningful part of the program has been the discipleship aspect, which has helped me grow spiritually and strengthen my relationship with God, though I am a Muslim. The encouragement, prayers and lessons we receive have given me the hope, peace and a sense of belonging.
Beyond the discipleship, the program has provided emotional and social support. I used to be someone who did not forgive easily, but due to the program, I have built strong relationships with other caregivers, and we continue to encourage each other. I am no longer alone; I feel part of a caring and supportive community.
Due to your support, my child has a better start in life, and I am doing better in life. I am better equipped to face the future. Words cannot fully express how thankful I am for your kindness, support and commitment.
May God richly bless you for your love and your generosity shown to us.
ReportA message from a partnership facilitator
I am Alex, and I serve as the Partnership Facilitator for Compassion International Ghana in charge of the Asuogyaman area. I want to express my deepest gratitude for your steadfast support in providing for the needs of the participants of the Survival program. Your compassion and dedication have ensured that children and mothers in this program receive essential care, provisions and thorough medical attention.
Thanks to your efforts, maternal and child mortality rates have significantly decreased within the community. Caregivers received training in financial literacy, management skills and preparation of complementary feeding for children. Instead of buying expensive processed food, they receive locally prepared food, which is less expensive and very nutritious. This has led to the children growing healthy.
Two caregivers have even turned this training into a small-scale business by preparing and selling the local baby food in the market. Others are receiving vocational training, such as beauty, dressmaking and soap-making, helping them build skills that contribute to long-term stability.
I pray that God continues to sustain you and your family. Because you have chosen to care for these vulnerable mothers and babies, may God bless the work of your hands and grant you good health.
Sincerely,