Malnutrition Among Students in Ahafo on a Rise - Ghana Health Service

The Ahafo Regional Health Directorate together with the Regional Education Directorate has introduced Nutrition Friendly Schools Initiative (NFSI) about 50 selected schools to help combat malnutrition among students.

Speaking to Soireenews Sulley Dramani at Stakeholders Engagement in Goaso on the initiative, the Ahafo Regional Director of health services Dr Boakye Boateng said research conducted by Ghana Health Service reveals that most students especially at the basic school level in the region are not properly fed and it is going against the academic performance.

Research indicates that health problems due to suboptimal nutritional status in primary school-age children are among the causes of low school enrolment, high absenteeism, early dropout and unsatisfactory classroom performance 

Despite the economic growth observed in developing countries, particularly Ghana, malnutrition and more importantly undernutrition is still highly prevalent in some parts of the country", Dr Boateng stated".

Ahafo Regional Education Director, Lucy Ama Ankrah appealed to heads of schools to compel food vendors to undertake health screening exercises to help prevent them transfer diseases to the students.

In addition, she urged schools without the school feeding program to entreat food vendors to prepare nutritious food for students to help curb the menace.

Sulley Dramani, Ahafo Region