Nutrients Fortified Food Campaign Launched

The Deputy Minister with some members of FDB & KMA reps showcasing a fortified vegetable oil

THE FOOD and Drugs Board (FDB) in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has launched a campaign to promote consumption of food fortified with micro-nutrients to improve the health of children and women of child-bearing age.

The campaign launch which was attended by several institutions including traders and representatives of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), GHS and FDB at the Kumasi Race Course was dubbed 'Nourish Your Life.'

Deputy Minister of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC), Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba, who performed the launch encouraged women especially those of child-bearing age to patronize micro-nutrient fortified foods in order to lay a good and healthy foundation for their children's growth.

She advised women to look out for the fortified food sign anytime they purchase food to enable them buy products that will enhance the well-being of their families.

According to her, the food fortification campaign is essentially aimed at the vulnerable in society who are women and children.

She said statistics indicate that increasing deficiencies particularly in vitamin A and iron cause chronic and infectious diseases in children, hence the fortification campaign to promote consumption of products that contain them to complement efforts to control these chronic diseases.

The deputy minister assured FDB of her outfit's resolve to ensure that fortified foods get to all schools as part of the school feeding program.

The minister called on the KMA authorities to ensure that children of school going age who loiter around the city are in school.

An official of the GHS said the project is aimed at educating the public against the use of flours and vegetable oils that do not have the fortified logo or that are not endorsed by FDB.

He said the five-year project forms part of FDB's National Micro-Nutrient Programme sponsored by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAN).

The campaign, he further stated, is aimed at creating public awareness about the importance of using fortified foods such as wheat flours and vegetable oils as well as promoting the logos and symbols for easy identification.

The personnel advised the public to eat more fruits and vegetables that contain iron and vitamin A to fight against malnourishment and infectious diseases among mothers and children.

Richard Nuamah, Project Manager of the Food Fortification Campaign and FDB told the media the campaign is expected to decrease the rate of malnutrition and improve the health of women and children.

According to him, at least 40,000 metric tonnes of fortified vegetable oil and 481,000 metric tonnes of fortified wheat flour will be provided in five years time to support efforts to encourage the intake of micro-nutrient fortified foods.

The food fortification program was launched in 2007 under the partnership of 35 organizations from public and private sectors.

From Emmanuel Ako-Gyimah, Kumasi