Micronutrient deficiency: Major public health problem, Daily Graphic

HEALTH experts have explained that micronutrient deficiency is a major public health problem that affect the health and growth and development of particularly women and children. The three commonest micronutrient deficiencies belong to iron, iodine and vitamin A.
 Poor nutrition, low intake of vitamin A-rich foods and infectious diseases such as diarrhea and measles are the most common cause of vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Infants, young children and pregnant women especially in low-income countries are more susceptible to VAD. In addition because breast milk is a good source of vitamin A, encouraging breast feeding is an important strategy to prevent VAD in infants.
Speaking at the Ghana Coalition of Civil Society Organisation for Scaling Up Nutrition (GHACCSSUN) members and stakeholders consultation on the National Nutrition Policy dialogue in Accra, the Director of the Nutrition Department Ghana Health Service, Mrs Wilhelmina Okwabi explained that Vitamin “A” deficiency was 70 per cent in children under five while iodine deficiency was 40 per cent in school aged children.
 National Nutrition Policy
The National Nutrition Policy, which is yet to be validated and endorsed by parliament, will serve as a guide to help the government to ensure optimal nutrition of all people living in the country and also promote child survival and enhance capacity for economic growth and development.
Mrs Okwabi added that Iron deficiency coupled with the high incidence of malaria led to very high prevalence of anaemia, especially among women, representing 59 per cent and children 57 per cent.
At birth, she said, close to 11 per cent of children weighed less than 2,500g, adding that the 2011 Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey indicated that nearly one in every four children (23 per cent) was moderately or severely stunted and seven per cent were severely stunted (too short for age).
She noted that there was also a high prevalence of over weight and obesity, which was related to the increasing incidence of diet-related non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular diseases.
 She underscored the need to properly address the issue of low nutritional status of women and children in the Upper East, Upper West, Northern and the Central regions since they recorded poor nutrition status.
Outlining the way forward, she called for co-ordination and harmonisation among the relevant officials including Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and non-governmental institutions.
Adequate funding and human capacity, she mentioned, were also some relevant areas that could lead to the improvement of the nutrition status of the people of Ghana.
Access to services
In addition, access to services such as healthcare, potable water, sanitation, social protection and agricultural extension could also lead to the improvement in one’s nutritional status.
In her presentation, the United Nations Reach facilitator, Mrs Victoria Wise, said exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, Improvement in maternal nutrition, supplementary feeding support for smallholder farmers and increase micronutrient intake were some of the key issues to nutritional values.
According to the Co-ordinator of GHACCSSUN, Nana Ayim Poakwah, the National Nutrition Policy would seek to address some of the strategic challenges by coming up with strategies which would increase both financial and human resources in all sectors for improved nutrition.
He urged the various representatives of the civil society organisations to embark on the necessary advocacy and campaign activities adding that monitoring  the exercise across the country would ensure that the policy was fully implemented.