The paramount Chief of Manya Krobo Traditional area has lauded the Government of Canada for improving the livelihood of the people in his traditional area.
For the past five years, about 144 households have benefited from the Nutrition links project which aims at improving health and livelihoods of vulnerable households through integrated interventions and capacity building of local institutions and communities.
The Chief of the area, Nene Sackitey II who was appreciative of the several interventions and capacity building projects indicated how positively the mission has impacted on the people.
“We can assure the Government of Canada who funded the project that it was not a small project at all. It will yield the desired results and spread benefits far and wide.
“I also pay tribute to McGill University in Canada, the University of Ghana for their collaborative work and pray the beneficiaries of the program to keep the torch burning ever after,” he expressed
The Eastern region has been identified as one of the regions with the highest prevalence of stunting growth and anaemia among children.
Over 30 percent of children in 2013 were suffering from the disorder in the community.
The project which was funded by the Government of Canada was a collaborative research and development initiative between the University of Ghana, McGill University Canada, World vision, Heifer Project International and other partners to address the challenges in the communities.
Several interventions for the past five years were implemented including poultry farm projects to increase egg consumption and improve living conditions for residents.
Speaking at the forum, a researcher and senior lecturer of the School of Public Health at the University of Ghana, Dr. Richmond Aryeetey, said the project among other things was also to encourage the intake of vegetables for healthy growth.
A Professor with McGill University, Professor Grace Marquise noted that the Upper Manya Krobo District was selected due to its unique health needs and also because of the University of Ghana’s ongoing nutrition programme in the area.
According to her, during the period under review, it was identified that most of the nutritional needs of children was as a result of poor feeding habits after breastfeeding.
Even though the communities have benefited from such interventions, officials are still worried about the sustainability of the project.
Senior lecturer with the Nutrition and Foods department at the University of Ghana, Dr. Esi Colecraft, indicated that the challenge of stunting growth and anaemia in the community is reducing, but there is still a need to ensure the projects are sustained.
She also called for more support to continue with the work in the communities.
“It’s all based on funding and what is available, so right now we are in the process of looking for more funding to support the sustainability committee to see what measures they can put in place to ensure that the lessons that were leant through the project are maintained and continue to benefit.
“We are also looking for opportunities to expand to other districts. It’s all about funding,” she lamented.
The nutrition Links End Project Dissemination meeting in Accra attracted several stakeholders from funding partners in Canada, and officials in health, agriculture, education, members of the district assembly, as well as traditional leaders and the media to discuss and evaluate the outcome of the project after its implementation in 2013.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM/ Josephine Asabea Akonor
