Accra: A recent study by the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, has revealed high levels of anaemia among school-aged children in parts of the country. The findings, from research conducted between 2024 and 2025 in Kyekyewere in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region, have renewed calls for greater attention to child nutrition and iron intake.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ms Salome Azevedo, the Managing Director of Nestl© Ghana, addressed the issue during the launch of the 'NIDO Iron for Focus' campaign, aimed at raising awareness about iron deficiency and promoting better nutrition to support children's growth, concentration, and learning outcomes. She highlighted that iron deficiency remains a significant public health challenge in Ghana, particularly affecting children and pregnant women.
Ms Azevedo referenced data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, which reported that 49 percent of children aged six to 59 months experienced iron deficiency. She emphasized that insufficient iron intake could impair children's physical health and reduce their ability to concentrate, participate in school activities, and achieve their full learning potential.
Ms Azevedo pointed out that good nutrition involves not only meeting current needs but also helping children build a foundation for the future. She suggested that the deficiency could be mitigated through healthier diets and increased consumption of iron-rich foods, which would significantly enhance children's growth, focus, and overall development.
As Nestl© approaches its 70th anniversary in Ghana, Ms Azevedo reiterated the company's commitment to contributing to family wellbeing through nutrition initiatives. Mr Kwabena Adarkwa, Category Manager for Nutrition at Nestl© Ghana, explained that the campaign aims to make nutritional information more visible to parents at the point of purchase, emphasizing the importance of good nutrition for children's focus, learning, and potential.
Mr Adarkwa detailed that NIDO has long been fortified with iron and that the campaign seeks to raise awareness of the nutrient's critical role in supporting children's daily performance. He warned that iron deficiency and anaemia could lower children's energy levels, weaken concentration, and limit their participation in both learning and play.
He encouraged parents to supplement fortified foods with iron-rich local foods such as animal proteins and legumes, and to combine them with vitamin C-rich foods to improve iron absorption. One sachet of NIDO, he noted, provides approximately 50 percent of the daily iron requirement for school-aged children between four and 12 years. The campaign aims to help parents better understand and appreciate the nutritional value already present in the product.