Veep Opoku-Agyemang calls for more investment in addressing nutrition deficiencies
She said Ghana had made progress but still faced challenges, particularly concerning anaemia among women and adolescent girls, dietary diversity and breastfeeding.
Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has urged for increased investment and enhanced collaboration to tackle malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, stressing that addressing this issue necessitates action spanning health, education, agriculture, and social protection sectors. Addressing the opening of the Global Micronutrient Forum in Accra on September 28, the Vice President highlighted that malnutrition persists as a persistent global challenge, with ramifications that can span from childhood into adulthood and impact the health and development of future generations.
While acknowledging Ghana's progress, the Vice President pointed out ongoing challenges, especially regarding anaemia among women and adolescent girls, dietary diversity, and breastfeeding. She further elaborated that nutrition is contingent on factors such as household incomes, food availability, school meals, parental knowledge, and access to health services.
Consequently, she advocated for integrated interventions embracing government, private sector, development partners, and other nations. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang spotlighted Ghana's school feeding program, which currently serves over 4.5 million children, alongside ongoing efforts to enhance nutritional standards, caterer training, and monitoring.
Additionally, she emphasized primary healthcare initiatives as a platform for bolstering preventive nutrition services, including maternal and child health measures. The Vice President underscored the necessity for a synergistic approach between domestic financing and international support, noting that nations grappling with high levels of malnutrition often encounter fiscal constraints, climatic disruptions, and strain on health systems.
She called for augmented financial resources, scientific knowledge, innovation, and international cooperation to support sustainable nutrition systems rather than transient measures. The Vice President expressed Ghana's pleasure at hosting the global dialogue and formally inaugurated the Global Micronutrient Forum.
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