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Ghana Fast Facts Header

The practice of giving girls, usually under the age of 10, to village fetish shrine priests as sexual/domestic slaves to compensate for family member's offenses continues despite a 1998 ban. Women's and human rights groups strive to end the practice (Trokosi) and have won the release of 2,190 Trokosi slaves.

Maternal mortality ranges from 210 to 800 depending on the region. Ghana's Minister of Health attributes high maternal mortality to delays in accessing safe motherhood services, e.g., poor roads, long distances, and ignorance of pregnancy problems. Others cite early marriage and female genital cutting as additional causes.

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Country Snapshot: Ghana and Health

Photo of two women and an infant.
USAID's support of a country-wide Community-based Health Planning and Services initiative has resulted in a remarkable increase in people's access to health care and, ultimately, is saving lives.

USAID mainstreams gender considerations in health, with activities ranging from eliminating female genital cutting (FGC), to involving males in reproductive health, safe motherhood and maternal and child health initiatives and encouraging women community leaders to speak out on HIV/AIDS.

Male Involvement in Safe Motherhood

With its partners, CEDPA and the Amasachina Self Help Association in northern Ghana, USAID trained men, as well as women, as safe motherhood advocates (SMAs) and safe motherhood volunteers (SMVs). Because men influence safe motherhood practices in the community, the male advocates and volunteers reached out to husbands and other male figures in the community. Once educated about harmful practices that can affect pregnant women, the men worked with women to adopt appropriate behavior changes.

Queen Mothers

Traditional female leaders such as Queen Mothers have joined the fight against HIV/AIDS, educating their communities and providing support for people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans, most prominently in the eastern Region. Working with its partner FHI, USAID mobilized these influential leaders and raised their awareness about the disease. Queen Mothers have been giving talks to schoolchildren and worked with churches and NGOs to educate communities.

Reproductive Health Care

To improve reproductive health care, USAID supports information dissemination to program managers, policymakers, and the public. In 2001, two booklets-Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Chartbook on Sexual Experience and Reproductive Health and Abandoning Female Genital Cutting: Prevalence, Attitudes, and Efforts to End the Practice-were received so enthusiastically that Ghana Television produced TV programs based on the youth featured in Chartbook.


Ghana's Program Objectives

Education
Economic Growth
Civil Society
Health

Selected Activities

Strategies for Advancing Girls' Education (SAGE)
Sara Clubs
Safe Schools
Enterprise Development Program
Micro-entrepreneurs
Women Artisans
Male Involvement in Safe Motherhood
Queen Mothers
Reproductive Health Care
Capacity Building
Legal Equity and Political Empowerment for Women

Visit USAID/Ghana link to the Mission
Global Snapshots: Ghana Homepage

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:09:20 -0500
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