Statistics show that 16 out of 100 children under five years in the Ashanti Region, have stunted growth.
This has made it imperative for the Nutrition Unit of the Ghana Health Service to partner with the Koko Plus Foundation to launch a project dubbed, ‘Start Right, Feed Right’ to sensitize the public to proper nutrition for children right from birth to two years.
Statistics from the Ghana Health Service in 2017 show that 52 percent of mothers breastfeed immediately after birth, 43 percent do exclusive breastfeeding with 90 percent babies breastfed until they are a year old. Again, 42 per cent of children are breastfed till they turn two.
Armed with these figures, the ‘Start Right, Feed Right’ Campaign has kick started an initiative of the Nutrition Unit of the Ghana Health Service in partnership with Koko Plus Foundation, to curb malnutrition in the Ashanti region.
Speaking to Journalists in Kumasi on the one-year campaign, Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of Health in Charge of Public Health, Dr. Michael Rockson Agyei, explained that brains of children develop within the first two years and are fully formed at age five.
Therefore, proper nutrition during this period ensures good academic performance and optimal development of the child.
The Ashanti Regional Nutrition Officer, Madam Olivia Timpo said it is important for mothers to introduce their children to the four-star diet made up of staples, legumes, animal fats, fruits and vegetables.
The Country Director for Koko Plus Foundation, Yusuke Takahashi, was hopeful the campaign will meet its target of improving child nutrition in the region.
Activities lined up for the one year ‘Start Right, Feed Right’ campaign, include media engagement, floats and community sensitization.
