Good nutrition in the early years of a child’s life is essential for healthy growth, strong immunity, and brain development. Unfortunately, many children in Ghana still suffer from malnutrition and anaemia—conditions that can seriously affect their well-being and even lead to early death if not addressed.
To help change this, the IMCHC campaign is taking practical steps to improve child nutrition:
- Health outreach programs are bringing vital education to parents and caregivers, showing them how to prepare balanced meals, the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, and how to include iron-rich foods in children’s diets.
- Through School Health Clubs, children are learning fun and simple ways to understand good nutrition and take healthy habits back home.
- RENEF Foundation is also working together with local health canters to support regular growth monitoring and provide essential micronutrient supplements to help children thrive.
- RENEF Foundation has partnered with corporate organizations in Ghana, including Nestlé (Lactogen) and Promasidor Ghana Limited (Yumvita), who provide timely donations of baby food through RENEF to help meet the nutritional needs of malnourished infants..
Simple things like handwashing and clean delivery spaces can mean the difference between life and death for a mother or newborn. In many communities across Ghana, poor hygiene and sanitation are still major causes of infections in babies and dangerous conditions like sepsis in mothers—both of which are often preventable.
To tackle this, the IMCHC campaign is focused on keeping both mothers and babies safe through practical, community-based education and support:
- Mothers and traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are being trained on how to prevent infections during and after childbirth—covering everything from clean cord care to safe delivery practices.
- Through radio programs, community gatherings, and antenatal clinics, the campaign is spreading simple but life-saving messages about hygiene.
- Expecting mothers and health facilities receive hygiene kits with essentials like soap, gloves, and disinfectants to support safe deliveries.
- RENEF is also working closely with district health teams to run training workshops for health workers and TBAs, making sure they have the knowledge and tools to provide safe care.
No mother wants to pass an infection on to her baby—but without the right care, HIV can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. This risk becomes even greater when mothers are not aware of their HIV status or don’t have access to preventive services.
Through the IMCHC campaign, RENEF Foundation is working to change this by making sure more mothers are informed, supported, and empowered to protect their babies:
- Mothers are being encouraged to start antenatal care early and get tested for HIV as part of routine checkups. Early detection is key to preventing transmission.
- The campaign is also focused on expanding PMTCT (Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission) services, especially in rural communities where healthcare access is limited.
Here’s how it’s being done:
- RENEF is partnering with health centres to set up more PMTCT service points, bringing care closer to where women live.
- Peer educators, many of whom have lived experience with HIV, are trained to support and guide HIV-positive mothers, helping them stay on antiretroviral treatment (ART) and make informed choices for themselves and their babies.
- The Miss Nightingale / Elegance ambassadors are using their platforms to promote open, stigma-free conversations about HIV, encouraging more women to seek help without fear of judgment.
Together, these efforts are helping to ensure that every child has a chance to be born free of HIV—and every mother has the support she needs to make that possible.
No woman should lose her life while giving birth, and no newborn should die from causes we know how to prevent. Yet in Ghana, far too many mothers and babies continue to die from complications that could have been avoided with the right care and support.
The IMCHC campaign is taking bold steps to change this reality by focusing on timely, quality care before, during, and after childbirth.
- We’re raising awareness about the importance of having skilled health professionals at birth, recognizing danger signs early, and making sure mothers can reach emergency care when needed.
- We’re also working to strengthen health systems so that more women receive safe delivery and proper postnatal care, regardless of where they live.
These we are ensuring through.
- Community sensitization programs are being held to educate families on birth preparedness—what to expect, what to watch for, and when to seek help.
- Mobile health teams are reaching remote and underserved communities, offering antenatal and postnatal check-ups to women who might otherwise go without care.
- RENEF is partnering with district health directorates to boost emergency response systems, so that women facing complications can get lifesaving help quickly.
- General awareness campaign through the Miss Elegance tertiary Ghana initiative and other advocacy means such as social media among others.
Every mother and baby matters—and through IMCHC, we’re working to ensure that more of them survive and thrive.
Beyond the immediate tragedy, maternal and neonatal deaths often leave families emotionally, socially, and financially vulnerable.
IMCHC Strategy:
Provide psychosocial support and grief counselling and facilitate linkages to social welfare services and community-based support systems.
This is executed through establishing a Victim Support Desk under the RENEF Foundation to reach out to affected families.
Organizing support group meetings and community dialogues to reduce stigma and emotional isolation.
RENEF Foundation mobilize donations and resources to support affected families with financial aid and childcare assistance—not just as a one-time gesture, but continuously, until the baby reaches two years of age.
