Birth attendants holding their medical kits.

Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC) in conjunction with its local partner, Presbyterian Farmers’ Training and Child Development Program (PFTCDP), organized a five-day refresher training course for 22 traditional birth attendants (TBAs), commonly knows as mid-wives in North America, from 17 communities in Jantong Daboagshie, in northern Ghana.

The training was part of an overall CCFC strategy to provide better health care in rural communities for those struggling from the lack of medical resources and medical professionals. The aim of the training sessions was to upgrade the skills of the birth attendants in current pre-natal and post-natal practices. Emphasis was placed on hygiene practices, new birthing techniques, nutrition, referrals, family planning, and the prevention of the spread of deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS and guinea worm.

“CCFC Ghana is working with the community of Jantong to provide training, education and instruction to birth attendants because there weren’t enough resources to help women who were pregnant in this community,” said Sanatu Nantogma, Country Director for CCFC Ghana, at the closing ceremony of the five day training session.

Birth Attendant, Madam Abiba Wontogma holding 3 month old Abdul Wahid whom she helped deliver.

CCFC Ghana has plans to increase the number of health and nutrition programs throughout the Northern region of Ghana. In partnership with PFTCDP program CCFC aims to reduce cases of malnutrition and anemia in children in 10 communities. CCFC Ghana also plans to network with other communities to promote health and nutritional programs to over 1,300 school children, 250 youth and 750 adults in 10 communities by undertaking nutritional assessment and health and nutrition educational campaigns.

Agnes Atoguba, head of public health care in the East Gonja district, where the community of Jantong is located, congratulated the birth attendants for successfully completing their training and informed them that reports reaching the East Gonja District Health Directorate showed that they were doing a great job.