Nutrition
Benefits of Dawada
The African Locust bean, commonly referred to as “Dawadawa” by Ghanaians is a local seasoning used in soups and stews. It is rich in diverse nutrients and has great health benefits to Africans who consume it.
-Good vision
Due to the natural ingredients and nutrients found in the African locust bean, it makes it therefore one of the best treatments of bad vision and eye issues such as Myopia, Cataract and even minus eyes.
-It can treat stroke
Stroke is caused when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly obstructed by any substance which is fatal and dangerous to the health of individuals.
Research shows that consuming a good amount of African locust beans will definitely help you against such sickness.
-Reduces cholesterol
Cholesterol can cause blockage within the blood vessels thereby reducing the flow of blood to the heart which will definitely lead to heart issues. Eating locust beans can help your body burn the amount of cholesterol found in our bodies.
-Treat Diarrhoea
Due to the amount of tannin found in the African locust beans, it can cure diarrhoea, which is a gastrointestinal disorder with the symptoms of frequent watery bowel movements. Consuming African locust beans will help relieve you of diarrhoea
-Treat hypertension
Hypertension also referred to as high blood pressure is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently increasing above the normal level. Therefore consuming a good amount of African Locust beans will help people with hypertension.
-Helps control blood sugar level
The human body requires sugar to produce enough energy but it should be stable otherwise if unstable, it will cause diabetes. Therefore consuming African locust beans will help you control blood sugar level.
-Improve digestion
Eating a good amount of African locust beans can improve digestion. Good digestion will give you a healthy body as the excretion process in the body will be facilitated which will prevent constipation.
-Healthy weight
Underweight is not healthy and vice-versa. It is not easy to have normal weight or for the underweight to gain weight. Eating African locust bean will help you gain weight in a natural way.
-Heal Wounds
As mentioned above it can be used to treat ulcer wounds internally as well as external wounds. The leaves when pounded can be applied on wounds and the beans can be put on the wound to heal the wounds.
-Reduce Fever
Consuming a good amount of African locust beans can reduce fever. It was traditionally used to reduce high fever which is still practiced in some rural African communities and also send away evil spirits because of its unpleasant smell.
African locust beans is one of the best gift of God to Africans but sadly, only a few see this, it consist of many vital nutrients which are cherished by the body. Therefore regular consumption of healthy African locust beans will give you good health
Source: https://gh.opera.news
Ghana has made important progress in testing effective nutrition interventions. Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) have been piloted in selected health facilities across several districts, reaching thousands of pregnant women.
Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) has been delivered through community programs in high-burden districts, supported by trained health workers. These initiatives demonstrate that proven nutrition interventions can be implemented successfully within Ghana’s health system.
However, pilot projects are designed to test feasibility, not to meet national needs.
Despite their success, current pilots reach only a small fraction of the women and children who require these services. Meanwhile, anemia affects a large proportion of pregnant women, and tens of thousands of children suffer from severe acute malnutrition each year. The gap between pilot coverage and population need highlights the limits of project-based approaches.
Nutrition projects funded through time-bound grants face predictable constraints. Coverage depends on donor priorities rather than national burden. Programs end when funding cycles close, even if needs persist. Financing uncertainty makes long-term planning difficult, and supply chains often remain fragmented instead of being integrated into national systems. Data collection and accountability focus on project requirements rather than strengthening national monitoring.
Most critically, project-based approaches perpetuate inequity. Women and children in pilot districts receive evidence-based interventions while those in non-pilot areas with identical needs receive outdated or no care. Access becomes a matter of geography rather than health policy. This creates a two-tier system where donor program placement, not health policy, determines who receives lifesaving treatment.
Systems-based financing through the National Health Insurance Scheme offers a fundamentally different approach. NHIS integration ensures nationwide coverage based on enrollment rather than project geography. With 84 per cent of mothers with children under five already enrolled, the delivery infrastructure exists.
Financing becomes predictable through established NHIS revenue streams. Supply chains integrate with national pharmaceutical procurement systems. Quality standards and accountability mechanisms operate across all facilities, not just pilot sites.
Transitioning from pilot to scale requires policy decisions that projects alone cannot deliver. RUTF and MMS must be formally included in NHIS benefits and medicines lists. Reimbursement rates must be established to cover procurement and distribution. Budget allocations must be protected within medium-term expenditure frameworks. Supply chains must be strengthened at national level rather than replicated across multiple projects.
Ongoing Health Technology Assessments will deliver crucial evidence about cost-effectiveness to guide future decisions. Available data already suggests that MMS is highly affordable within public-sector financing, while community-based treatment of severe malnutrition reduces reliance on costly hospital care. These interventions are not only effective, but they are also fiscally realistic.
Pilots have served their purpose. Continuing to operate at pilot scale when national implementation is feasible means accepting preventable illness and loss of human potential. Ghana has the policy frameworks, trained workforce, and financing mechanisms required to move forward. What remains is the decision to shift from demonstration to delivery, and to ensure that effective nutrition interventions reach everyone who needs them.
Feature article by Women, Media and Change under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition project.
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Cornmeal doughnuts also known as Bamfo bisi or Awiesu is a very delicious Ghanaian snack and street food. The snack is crunchy and can make one full.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of milled corn flour
- 3 tablespoonful of grounded nutmeg
- Half cup of sugar
- 1 litre of oil
- Half cup of roasted groundnut
Preparation
- Pour one cup of the corn flour into a saucepan and mix with water.
- Place the mixture and heat for about 4- 9 minutes until a smooth paste is formed.
- Set mixture aside to cool
- Pour the remaining one cup of flour into a large bowl.
- Add sugar, nutmeg and stir together.
- Scoop and transfer the hot paste into the dry corn flour.
- Roll the dough between your palms to form an oblong shape with clean hands and insert peanuts.
- Pour cooking oil into a pot until well heated.
- Fry the Awiesu until gold
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
