Nutritionist, Gifty Baffour-Awuah says severe acute malnutrition remains a serious fundamental cause of child deaths in Ghana, accounting for many child in-hospital deaths.
Malnutrition is a silent killer affecting a lot of children in Ghana with consequences of impaired mental development,
According to her, stunted growth, a reduced growth rate in human development, is a primary manifestation of malnutrition in early childhood, including malnutrition during foetal development which is brought on by a malnourished mother.
In an interview with Nana Konadu Okontie on Plan B FM ‘Apomuden Fie’, Mrs.Awuah Stated that it is important that while due to pregnancies and breastfeeding, women have additional nutrient requirements, good nutrition goes beyond the provision of nutritious food.
Thus, mothers ought to be sensitized to the value of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months.
She said it is caused by poor food intake, mainly a diet that does not provide essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, or diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and infections affecting young children.
“These are mainly influenced by food insecurity at household level and non-availability of Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services,”
“More still needs to be done by actively finding children with acute malnutrition at community level and ensuring that they receive appropriate care and treatment on time,” she said.
Mrs. Awuah added that, prevention efforts also need to be strengthened to ensure that acute malnutrition is prevented before it happens by ensuring that children receive nutritious diets and care they need.
“The mother’s mental health is also important because depression is also significantly associated with malnutrition”
She said breastfeeding is a very important protector for under-nutrition.
“Breastfed children have better nutrition and it also helps to develop their immune system so they are better protected against diseases,” she said.
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