Bawku west: The Ingraining Development for Empowerment and Advancement of Society (IDEAS Ghana), a non-profit organisation, has launched the Promoting Children's Access to Nutritious Food project in Bawku West District. The initiative aims to combat the rising rates of child under-nutrition in the district with support from the German organisation Kindermissionswerk.
According to Ghana News Agency, the project targets a critical health issue as recent data shows 27 per cent of children in the area are acutely malnourished, with 2.3 per cent being underweight. Mr Stephen Bordotsiah, the Bawku West District Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), highlighted the severe implications of underweight children, who are more susceptible to infections and poor physical growth. He pointed out that persistent undernutrition poses a significant threat to child survival and future productivity.
Mr Bordotsiah endorsed the project, stating that poor complementary feeding practices post-six months are a major cause of wasting and stunting. He warned that stunting affects brain development and educational attainment, undermining future workforce potential and economic progress.
Professor Emmanuel Delwin Abarike, Board Chairman of IDEAS Ghana, detailed the intervention's core strategies, including agricultural support for women farmers to grow nutrient-rich crops. The organisation plans to provide nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and engage local youth as 'Child Nutrition Champions' to challenge harmful food taboos.
Dr Joseph Ayembilla, Executive Director of IDEAS Ghana, emphasized community ownership as key to the project's success. He called on traditional leaders and landowners to offer land and support for 500 women participating in the agricultural phase. Dr Braimah Baba Abubakari, Upper East Regional Director of the GHS, commended the project, urging stakeholders to focus on collaboration and accountability for sustainability.
The launch united a diverse coalition of stakeholders, including the GHS, the Department of Agriculture, World Vision Ghana, NABOCADO, traditional leaders, and Assembly Members.