ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SANITATION UNIT – MAMPONG MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY
NUTRITION-ORIENTED INTERVENTIONS
Ghana has made moderate improvement in socio-economic development. However, despite an improved health sector, several key outcome related to poor nutrition remain. Nearly one-third of all children less than five years in Ghana are too short for their age (stunted), approximately one out of ten is either underweight or wasted (do not weigh enough relative to their age or height). Micronutrient deficiencies among women and children are major public health challenges. The consequences of poor nutrition go far beyond the increased risk of illness and death in children and of complication during pregnancy and delivery. Poor nutrition in childhood contributes to irreversible reduced intelligence, low economic productivity later in life and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
Improving the nutrition of the people of Ghana, especially that of women and children, is not only key to increase child survival and achieving Ghana’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but a critical element for the healthy human capital essential for Ghana’s economic growth and development. It is for these reasons that government has developed the National Nutrition Policy (NNP) Of Ghana which provides nutrition-oriented intervention for Ghanaians. The goal of the policy is to ensure optimal nutrition and health of all persons living in Ghana, to enhance capacity for sustainable economic growth and development.
A wide range of nutrition –specific intervention are currently being implemented by the Ministry of health Ghana Health Service and partners such as focusing on promotion of women’s nutrition before, during and after pregnancy, optimal breast-feeding including the context of HIV and AIDS, optimal complementary feeding, control of vitamin A, anaemia and iodine deficiency disorders; public health intervention such as deworming, promoting hygiene and sanitation, school health and nutrition; malaria control; and growth monitoring and counselling. In addition, nutrition –sensitive intervention related to food security, poverty reduction, hygiene and sanitation, social protection, and health and nutrition education are also being implemented by various line ministries. Many of these interventions have nationwide coverage, but their impacts have been largely minimal.
List of nutrition-oriented intervention in the Mampong Municipal Assembly.
| No. | INTERVENTION | TARGET GROUP | AIM |
| Iron and folic acid supplementation | Pregnant women and adolescent girls | Reduce anaemia | |
| Flour and Vegetables oil fortificated | General population | Increase intake of micro nutrition | |
| Universal salt iodization | General population | Increase intake of iodine | |
| Nutrition and malaria control for child survival | Pregnant women, children 0-59 months, and their mothers | Increase uptake of nutrition and malaria control services | |
| Promotion of regenerative health and nutrition | General population | Prevent diet-related diseases, promote good health/nutrition | |
| School feeding programme | Primary school children in selected school nationwide | Improve nutrition and school attendance | |
| Wean mix preparation | Lactating mothers | Increased nutritional level of meals for babies within the district. | |
| Iodized salt in meals | Public food vendors | Increased iodine intake through meals to curb iodine deficiency disorders |
