Expectant mothers have been advised to read to their developing babies for them to become familiar with words when they are born. Mr Elijah Asumang, Ag. Deputy Eastern Regional Director and Head of Extension and Mobile Library Unit at the Regional Library in Koforidua explained that research had shown that babies, who are 18 weeks old in the womb could hear sounds. 'And if they are introduced to reading, they can become familiar with the words when they are born,' he said. Mr Asumang was speaking to expectant and lactating mothers at the Eastern Regional Hospital, under a programme put together by the Eastern Regional Library Directorate, the Talking Tips Africa Foundation, and the Speech and Language Unit of the Eastern Regional Hospital. The initiative aimed to address the escalating issue of illiteracy, frequently associated with inadequate reading abilities, and to lower the illiteracy rates among Ghanaians. The Regional Library Directorate of the Ghana Library Authority and the two institutions init iated a pilot project called Read2Baby to highlight the importance of promoting a love for reading from an early age. Mr Elijah Asumang said the project aimed to promote literacy among children and that it must start from the inception of pregnancy-that is, 18 weeks of the foetus-to the day the child will be born and to five years of age. Madam Gifty Ayoka, Executive Director of Talking Tipps Africa Foundation, said, 'Let's change the narrative by introducing babies early to books rather than later so that they can be 'addicted' to books.' She advised that parents spend more time with their children with books and less time behind the screen. 'The amount of screen exposure and the age of screen time onset have a direct impact on the child's sight, language, and speech development,' she added. Talking Tipps Africa Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that provides speech and language therapy services, inclusion and disability advocacy, and training of teachers and caregivers on child development. Madam Sandra Quayson, Speech and Language Therapist at the Eastern Regional Hospital encouraged other health institutions to embrace and support the Read2Baby project to improve literacy in the country. Source: Ghana News Agency
Related Posts
Tourism Authorities encourages chocolate consumption to improve health/ economy
ges Ghanaians to consume more chocolate to improve their health status, boost the local economy and enhance job opportunities.
The Director said this when he addressed Valentine’s Day celebrants at the Rock Gardens Eco-Resort, one of the fastest grow…
Government has already mobilized 50% of the 200 million euros for the Tourism Operational Program, Carlos Santos
The Government is optimistic about the recovery and accelerated recovery of tourism, having mobilized 50 % of the 200 million euros of the 2022-2026 Tourism Operational Program (POT) for the economic activity sector of the country.The Minister of Touri…
UGMC Clinical Trials Unit: CEO appeals for more support
Dr Kwame Anim-Boamah, Cheif Executive Officer (CEO) of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), is optimistic the Hospital’s ultra-modern Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) will be ready by the end of the first quarter of 2024 if the needed funds are a…