Growing Healthy Food & Healthy Children in Ghana

In Beposo, a small community in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, a group of women recently gathered as future lactation coaches. With support from Self-Help International’s Promoting Good Nutrition (PGN) team, they are being equipped with the tools and knowledge to help babies in their villages grow strong and healthy.

For many years, mothers in rural Ghana believed that newborns needed water or other foods alongside breast milk. These practices—passed down for generations—left babies vulnerable to malnutrition and illness. But with your support, that story is changing.

During the training, women learned the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, feeding babies only breastmilk for the first six months. They also practiced using MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) tapes to detect undernutrition early, prepared “tom brown” porridge enriched with soybeans, maize, and groundnuts, and piloted a simple but powerful idea: giving children over six months one boiled egg a day for vital protein.

One mother, Abena, shared, “Before, I thought breastmilk was not enough, so I gave my baby water. Now I know better. My child is healthier and more active, and I want to encourage other mothers too.”

By training local women as lactation coaches, your support is creating a ripple effect. Each coach returns home ready to share knowledge, support mothers, and protect children from malnutrition. This means healthier babies, stronger mothers, and more resilient communities.

This is the power of your generosity. Together, we are raising strong mothers and healthy babies—one coach, one mother, and one child at a time.

Links:

• Read more about Growing Healthy Food, Growing Healthy Children

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In the heart of rural Ghana, in the communities of Kukubuso, Beposo, and Fankamawe, something powerful is taking root: healthier children and empowered mothers—thanks to your support.

One mother, Ramatu from Fankamawe, shared, “At first, I didn’t know that breastfeeding alone was enough for the first six months. But after attending the Self-Help sessions, I gave it a try. My baby hardly falls sick. She’s active and always smiling.”

Through Self-Help International’s Growing Healthy Food, Growing Healthy Children program, mothers are not only learning the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during a child’s first six months of life—they’re being celebrated for it.

This year (2025), Self-Help International held exclusive breastfeeding awards in four communities in the Ashanti Region to honor mothers who chose to give their babies the healthiest start in life. These awards weren’t just about recognition—they were about reinforcing a life-saving message: that exclusive breastfeeding helps children grow stronger, stay healthier, and thrive.

Mothers who have embraced exclusive breastfeeding report not only healthier babies but also reduced household medical expenses. Health workers in the area have noticed fewer cases of malnutrition and diarrheal diseases among babies who were exclusively breastfed.

These changes are more than statistics—they’re the beginning of generational transformation. And they are only possible because you still believe in empowering women with the tools and knowledge to care for their children.

Thank you for standing with us. Together, we are nourishing the future—one mother, one child, one village at a time. 

Today is July Bonus Day-Your gift can spark a lifetime of health. Give now and double your impact to help more babies grow strong and healthy. See terms and conditions here.