UNICEF trains journalists on nutrition and nurturing care reporting

The United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF) has trained about 30 selected Ghanaian Journalists on how to effectively report on Nutrition and Nurturing care.

The workshop, held at the Accra City Hotel on Friday, April 1, 2022, was sponsored by UNICEF under the auspices of Ghana’s Ministry of Health.

Access to essential early childhood and adolescent nutrition services is low in Ghana.

According to the Ghana MICS 2017/18 report, the prevalence of malnutrition among children under 5 is high; 1 out of 5 children is stunted, wasting is at 7%, and anemia among adolescent girls between 15 and 19 years is at 48%.

The lead facilitator from UNICEF, Offeibea Baddoo, said there is the need to expand the circle of stakeholders to be better informed and equipped with the information to support advocacy efforts to create demands for uptake of these services and to promote good nurturing caring practices for children under 5 years.

She implored the participants to increase the coverage of essential health and nutrition services amongst children and adolescents, to support efforts to address all forms of malnutrition.

“The media entity by its nature, commands a mass audience of several different targets, including those primary targets that need to become aware of the importance of optimal infants and young child feeding practices, as well as adolescent nutrition.”

“By sensitizing the media with the relevant information, we believe we will generate incisive and impactful coverage, with the aim of influencing approaches and opinions of many stakeholders.”

On his part, the Nutrition Officer of UNICEF, Jevaise Aballo, stressed the need for mothers to adopt the exclusive breastfeeding method.

According to him, not only does this have health benefits for newborn babies, but it also has economic benefits for the country.

“Breastfeeding prevents 3,774 deaths of babies each year. It saves Ghana over $5.8 million and generates more than $594 million for the economy, which is nearly 1.5% of Ghana’s gross net income through having a healthier population.”

The Regional Nutrition Officer for the Greater Accra Ghana Health Service, Faustina Vimsriba-Toure, took participants through proper nutritional care during pregnancy and after childbirth.

About UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is a United Nations program headquartered in New York City that provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.

It is one of the members of the United Nations Development Group and its Executive Committee.

It was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II.

Maurice Pate, the American humanitarian and businessman, co-founded the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with Herbert Hoover in 1947.