Editorial
Take immediate action to end malnutrition
a development crisis and a public concern that requires immediate attention.
This is because hunger affects birth outcomes, maternal health, and child survival given that deficits in particular micronutrients pose a serious health burden and play a major role in childhood morbidity and death,
It is unfortunate that regional inequities and inadequate government funding for nutrition programmes still persist, despite continuous efforts to address the issue of malnutrition.
According to recent statistics from the 2022 Ghana Demographic Health Survey (GDHS) 18 percent of children under five are stunted, six percent are wasted, and 12 percent are underweight. Nearly half of these children also suffer from anaemia.
The statistics show that we must act immediately to prevent jeopardising the productivity and well-being of future generations.
These figures were revealed at a stakeholder engagement on malnutrition in Ghana which was organised by the Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) committed to empowering women and advancing gender equality in partnership with the Coalition of Public Health Actors (CAPHA).
The event served as the formal inauguration of the “Nourish Ghana; Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition Project,” one of WOMEC’s main advocacy efforts. The project’s goal is to increase public awareness of Ghana’s urgent malnutrition problem and its effects on development and health.
It established a forum for discussion aimed at bolstering national policy action on nutrition by promoting greater leadership, funding, and accountability, and particularly incorporating the media in the conversation.
In her statement, Mrs. Charity Binka, the executive director of WOMEC, stated that malnutrition costs Ghana roughly 6.4 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually and that, despite pledges, they are insufficient because the country continues to struggle with malnutrition.
With an emphasis on improving outcomes for women and children, WOMEC hopes the Nourish Ghana Project will address the ongoing problem of malnutrition and promote greater leadership, dedication, creativity, and investment in nutrition programmes.
It is also anticipated that the project will collaborate with lawmakers, policymakers, civil society organisations (CSOs), the media, and local stakeholders to promote long-lasting policy changes and boost funding for nutrition programmes through strategic advocacy, public awareness, and multi-sectoral engagement.
The recent floods in Accra and the neighbouring areas, which were brought on by a heavy downpour, were very catastrophic and caused loss of lives and property damage.
Similar severe flooding and downpours were also reported in other regions, which has caused anxiety and dread whenever it rains.
In a short period of time, the floods had a dangerous effect on entire communities and landscapes. Because of this, a lot of people are now temporarily putting up with friends or family members.
Videos that went viral on social media showed cars and other valuables being swept away by the floodwaters with little to nothing being done to stop them.
Certain organisations, including the New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, were not spared because the flood level damaged important documents and swamped their premises.
Even locations outside of flood-prone zones were inundated by the floods.
The rains would intensify along with thunderstorms, according to the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), which is tasked with observing, analysing, and disseminating weather and climate information to protect lives, promote economic planning, and maintain public safety.
It is important to remember that increased evaporation and atmospheric moisture due to climate change might intensify rainfall. Furthermore, more catastrophic floods are caused by heavy rainfall and shifting topography.
We discussed the causes of floods and mitigation strategies in our earlier editorial, “Accra floods necessitate change in attitude.”
Although the current flood situation is dire, safety can be greatly improved by being ready and understanding what to do.
The Spectator encourages the public to make an effort to be well-informed about weather predictions and take the required precautions to stay safe because the GMet is now providing accurate forecasts.
Make excellent use of the alert services that you can sign up for these days to get notifications on your phone.
Water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, prescription drugs, crucial documents in waterproof containers, and first aid supplies should all be prepared and kept readily available.
Safeguard your house and offices, relocate valuables to higher floors, and raise electrical appliances off the ground.
Avoid coming into contact with floodwater whenever you can since it might be tainted with chemicals, sewage, and other dangerous substances and also reptiles.
To make sure your neighbours are secure, it is crucial to check on them, especially if they are elderly, disabled, or living alone.
Additionally, parents need to make sure their children do not play in or close to floodwaters.
Let us be careful as there are floods everywhere.
Dear Editor,
I wish to plead with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) to dispatch personnel to some of the flash points when it rains.
What happened last Monday and Tuesday at major transport terminals must not be something that must be repeated.
I wish to first of all commend the Interior Minister, Mr Muntaka Mubarak for the swift intervention by announcing the ‘holiday’ that gave workers and school children a relief.
It was such a tough moment for workers driving and those not driving. The situation at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange and other transport terminals forced workers to walk long distances.
Apart from the lack of public transport, pedestrians had to navigate through mud, making it difficult to move around.
I believe that with the presence of police personnel, the traffic situation can be well managed to ease the huge traffic congestion to make travelling a lot easier.
Frank Amoah,
Kasoa
