GHS sets up committee to coordinate nutrition programmes for school children

In a move aimed at improving the health and academic performance of young people across the country, the Ghana Health Service has inaugurated a new interagency committee to coordinate nutrition programmes for school children.

The committee will serve as the main coordinating body for all nutrition-related programmes targeting school-aged children and adolescents under the first phase of Ghana’s School-Based Food and Nutrition Education Roadmap.

School Food and Nutrition Education has become a key part of improving children’s eating habits and overall wellbeing. Health experts say when children have access to nutritious meals and learn about healthy food choices, they are more likely to concentrate in class, perform better academically, and develop lifelong healthy habits.

The initiative also supports existing national programmes such as the Ghana School Feeding Programme and the Nutrition Friendly Schools Initiative, which aim to ensure that children not only receive meals at school but also understand the importance of balanced diets.

During the event, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Prof Sammeul Kaba Akoriyae, noted that the committee’s work will align with global recommendations from organizations such as the World Health Organization and UNESCO, as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which emphasize improved nutrition and health for children worldwide.

‘‘Despite all the efforts by government, interventions related to school feeding, food safety, deworming, WASH, adolescent health services and nutrition education have often operated separately. The key challenge has therefore been coordination. The Interagency Coordinating Committee provides an opportunity to bring these efforts together under a shared framework with common priorities, standards and accountability.’’ He said.

Stakeholders believe stronger coordination among health, education, and development partners will help scale up nutrition programmes in schools and ensure that Ghana’s children grow up healthier, better nourished, and ready to learn.

Deputy Director for Nutrition at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Olivia Timpo during a presentation on the nutrition status of school-aged children and adolescents in Ghana noted the urgency for re-strategizing to meet the nutrition needs of the cohorts of children from 5 years to 19 years.

‘‘We do so well with the nutrition level from antenatal to post-natal to about 5 years of the life of the child. But after 5 years we realized that we are not doing too well. So, we need to re-strategize to bridge that Gap.’’ She said.

The committee is expected to strengthen collaboration across sectors, identify national priorities for school-aged and adolescent nutrition, align policies and standards related to school food environments, promote evidence-based programming, and ensure accountability through shared indicators and regular performance review.

Source: 3news