Nutrition
Massive anthrax vaccination underway in five regions
Ms Kimberly Rosen(right) presenting the vaccines to vertinary officials
About one million animals across the five regions in the Northern part of the country are receiving anthrax vaccination.
The United States (U.S) Government, through the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), donated 100,000 doses of the vaccine to support government’s anthrax vaccination campaigns across the country.
The intervention is expected to build immunity of mostly livestock against the infection and prevent possible spread to other animals and humans.
Launching the campaign at Savelugu in the Northern Region, the USAID/Ghana Mission Director, Ms. Kimberly Rosen, said anthrax has a high transmission risk to humans which is why vaccination must be prioritised.
“Anthrax does not only threaten human life; when it destroys livestock, it also threatens economic prosperity and food security.”
In May 2023, Ghana experienced an outbreak of anthrax, affecting six districts in the Upper East Region. A total of 97 animals died from the outbreak. Thirteen suspected human anthrax cases were also detected, with one death recorded.
Dr Emmanuel Cudjoe, Chief Veterinary Officer, in a speech read on his behalf, said the vaccination was crucial to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation’s livestock and communities.
“Anthrax is a deadly disease that not only poses a grave risk to the health of our animals but also threatens the livelihoods of our farmers and the safety of our food supply. But today, we stand united in our resolve to confront this threat head-on.”
Anthrax is a serious, potentially life-threatening infectious disease that is passed from animals to humans.
To prevent future outbreaks, yearly animal vaccination is recommended, hence the launch of the campaign.
By Abigail Annoh
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
