The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) trained over 20 selected Ghanaian Journalists on how to effectively report on Nutrition and Nurturing care.
The workshop, held at the Accra City Hotel on Friday, April 1, 2022, was sponsored by UNICEF with support from Ghana’s Ministry of Health. Offeibea Baddoo, Communication specialist and lead facilitator from UNICEF, implored the need to increase the scope of information and best practices for child nutrition to the various stakeholders. And using media as a tool to drive expansion and support advocacy in Ghana.
According to the Ghana MICS 2017/18 report, 1 out of 5 children is stunted, wasting is pegged at 7%, and anaemia among adolescent girls between 15 and 19 years is at 48%.
Ms Offeibea Baddo said, “The media entity by its nature, commands a mass audience of several different targets, including those primary targets that need to become aware of the importance of optimal infants and young child feeding practices, as well as adolescent nutrition.
“By sensitizing the media with the relevant information, we believe we will generate incisive and impactful coverage, with the aim of influencing approaches and opinions of many stakeholders.”
Before the workshop, participants were taken on a tour of the Children’s unit of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital where they were briefed on procedures at the Antenatal Clinic, Postnatal Clinic, Child Welfare Clinic and Nutrition Department.
Jevaise Aballo, Nutrition Officer of UNICEF, stressed the need for mothers to adopt the exclusive breastfeeding method for the well-being of newborns and economic benefits.
“Breastfeeding prevents 3,774 deaths of babies each year. It saves Ghana over $5.8 million and generates more than $594 million for the economy, which is nearly 1.5% of Ghana’s gross net income through having a healthier population.”
The workshop ended with a talk from the Regional Nutrition Officer for the Greater Accra Ghana Health Service, Faustina Vimsriba-Toure, on proper nutritional care during pregnancy and after childbirth.
By Grace Somuah-Annan|3news.com|Ghana
