CAPHA, WOMEC Urge Govt to Prioritize Maternal and Child Nutrition with Increased Budget Allocation
The Coalition of Actors for Public Health Advocacy (CAPHA) and Women, Media and Change (WOMEC) are calling on the Government of Ghana to urgently increase budgetary allocations for maternal and child nutrition, describing the current malnutrition levels in the country as a national emergency.
At a capacity-building workshop for civil society organizations and media stakeholders in Accra, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, the Executive Director of WOMEC, Dr. Charity Binka, warned that malnutrition is undermining Ghana’s development and robbing children of their potential before they can thrive.
“Malnutrition is not just a health issue — it is a national emergency. It weakens our workforce, hampers development, and deprives our children of a healthy future,” Dr. Binka said. “We are not facing a crisis of scarcity, but one of poor access, limited education, weak service delivery, and low prioritization.”
According to her, 18% of Ghanaian children under five are stunted and 7% suffer from wasting, figures she described as “unacceptable” in a country with ample agricultural resources and skilled professionals.
To address this, WOMEC has partnered with CAPHA, with support from the Eleanor Crook Foundation, to launch “Nourish Ghana” — a national campaign aimed at increasing leadership, awareness, and investment in nutrition.
Dr. Binka urged government to make nutrition a cross-sectoral budgeted priority at the national, regional, and district levels. She also called for increased promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, improved complementary feeding practices, and hygienic food handling, especially in vulnerable communities.
“Ghana should not be battling malnutrition,” she stressed. “We have the resources, but what we need now is political will, leadership, and sustained commitment.”
She emphasized the pivotal role of the media in raising awareness. “The media has the power to shape public opinion. Let’s make nutrition a national conversation — in homes, schools, markets, and across our airwaves.”
Over the next year, WOMEC and CAPHA will intensify advocacy efforts through media campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration with parliamentarians and nutrition champions.
“Fighting malnutrition is about unlocking Ghana’s full potential,” Dr. Binka added. “When we invest in nutrition, we invest in education, health, productivity, and national development.”
Dr. Kassim Abdulai, Director of Operations at CAPHA, reinforced the urgent need for government action. “If we truly want to address our public health and development challenges, nutrition must be central to the national agenda,” he said. “We cannot keep repeating commitments — we need implementation.”
He noted that despite being more visible in rural areas, malnutrition is also prevalent in urban communities due to poor dietary choices, poor hygiene, and inadequate access to nutritious foods. He stressed the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and sanitation as effective ways to strengthen child immunity.
Dr. Abdulai expressed concern over the health implications of poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy, which negatively impacts fetal development and child health outcomes. He called on government to establish dedicated nutrition budget lines within the national health budget to support targeted interventions, including:
Provision of multiple micronutrient supplements for all pregnant women across health facilities;
Increased supply of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) for malnourished children;
Mitigation of USAID’s funding withdrawal through sustainable domestic funding;
Creation of a standalone nutrition budget, separate from broader health initiatives like the school feeding programme.
“Ghana pledged $6 million at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris this March. But pledges alone won’t save lives — real progress requires action, accountability, and resources,” Dr. Abdulai emphasized.
He also warned of the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension — driven by unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles.
“We are now facing a triple threat: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and lifestyle diseases,” he said. “This is a serious national health crisis.”
Dr. Abdulai also advocated for taxes on sugary and unhealthy processed foods, which are widely available and contribute significantly to rising NCD rates. He urged Ghanaians to return to traditional, wholesome diets and more active lifestyles.
“Our forefathers thrived on natural, nutritious foods and daily physical activity. We must return to these roots to protect future generations,” he added.
He concluded with a call for collective action: “This is a shared responsibility. Government, civil society, the media, and every Ghanaian must come together to reverse this dangerous trend and secure a healthier future for our children.”
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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