UNICEF, Kuami Eugene Mark Birth Registration Month In Bepowase

UNICEF Ghana Country Representative, Kuami Eugene, and officials from the Birth and Death Registry visited the Bepowase community in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region. The purpose was to promote Birth Registration Month and raise awareness about child rights. The delegation aimed to discuss progress, understand challenges, and advocate for every child's right to a legal identity and access to essential services.

Ghana's birth registration rate has been declining, dropping from 90.8% in 2022 to 73.4% in 2023. This decline is evident in the regional differences, with the Eastern Region experiencing relatively low coverage. Child registration is crucial as it ensures legal identity, access to education, healthcare, social benefits, and protection from various forms of exploitation.

The delegation's visit serves as a model to strengthen the registration system nationwide. They emphasized the importance of continuous referral pipelines, starting with healthcare services referring newborns to the registry. Additionally, schools should check for birth certificates during enrollment to identify older children who missed initial registration. Community chiefs play a critical role in ensuring local parents submit their details for batch processing and delivery of birth certificates.