Point Prevalence Of Malnutrition Goes 4 Year Low In Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis In 2018

"Malnutrition (under-nutrition) goes 4 year low in Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis in 2018" says the Metropolitan Nutrition Officer.

One of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which is SDG 2 aims is to "End hunger,achieve food security and improved Nutrition and promote Sustainable agriculture." In efforts to achieve this the United Nations General Assembly in 2016 adopted a resolution proclaiming UN Decade of Action on Nutrition from 2016 to 2025. This is all geared towards eliminating hunger and ensuring prosperity for all by 2030.

The sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis which before 2015 was bedeviled with high cases of malnutrition has achieved a great success with regards to ending malnutrition before the SDGs year in 2025. Presenting at the 2018 Annual Review at the Sekondi Youth Center, the senior Metro Nutrition Officer ( Mr Ishmael Prince Dimah ) who doubles as the Maternal And Child Health Nutrition Improvement Project (MCHNP) coordinator mentioned that the results as shown below was through multifaceted and conscious efforts by the directorate and the entire staff.


Mentioning some of the strategies in the year under review Mr Dimah stated that with the support of the MCHNP, Community Health Officers (CHOs) strategically changed their Home visit sessions from morning to evenings where every parent was home with their children after their daily activities. This was important because parents leave homes early to in search of their daily bread. Areas that were also considered slums especially the zongo and fishing areas, CHOs visited and offered Child Health and Nutrition services in the night when parents were back home. Mop-ups were conducted quarterly with the support of the MCHNP funds.

The Metro Chief Executive ( Hon K.K Sam), speaking at the event assured that the Assembly and the govt are committed to the well being the Sekondi-Takoradi citizenry and anything resource needed in this regard should be communicated to support a successful health delivery within the metro.

Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition covers 2 broad groups of conditions. One is ‘undernutrition’—which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals).