Stakeholders in the Chereponi district, have expressed concerns about the rising rate in child mortality.
In Northern Ghana, families primarily rely on carbohydrate-based foods that lack essential micronutrients necessary for child growth.
Studies in the Chereponi district of the North-East Region have shown that malnutrition is the leading cause of child mortality, prompting stakeholders to find solutions.
One intervention involves promoting the use of underutilised crops to supplement nutrient deficiencies.
Abdulai Arimiyaw, the nutrition officer for Chereponi, emphasises the importance of any intervention aimed at addressing malnutrition.
Arimiyaw called for interventions targeting malnutrition.
“Basically, malnutrition is referred to children who are static for their age, children who are underweight and anemia is one causes of child mortality. At the facility level, one of the causes of child mortality is anemia and anemia is as a result of malnutrition so if there is any intervention that going to look at this issue of anemia it is good, and we welcome it.”
Research indicates that egusi contains the necessary nutrients to address these challenges. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in collaboration with CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute and the Department of Agriculture, Chereponi is conducting studies under the ‘Egusi Project,’ funded by the Food Systems Research Network for Africa (FSNet-Africa) to explore the crop’s nutritional benefits and promote its consumption. The project has trained residents in Chereponi on how to use egusi for maximum nutritional benefits.
Dr Abena Boakye, a senior lecturer at the Department of Food Science and Technology, KNUST, and the lead researcher of the egusi project, underscored the potential of egusi.
“Malnutrition is an issue in most parts of Northern Ghana and several studies have confirmed that. There are studies to explore underutilised crops and the supporting ways to mitigate malnutrition challenge not just in Ghana but global front. From our investigations, one particular underutilised crop is egusi. Although it is underutilised, it has huge potential to mitigate malnutrition,” she stated.
Dr Boakye stressed standardising food preparation by encouraging the addition of egusi to soups and porridge.
“We encourage the use of egusi not only in Chereponi here but the whole nation. We should get the participation of policy makers in the promotion of egusi and I think this would go a long way to help the nutritional deficiencies of the nation,” she added.
Dr Mrs Mary Sefa Boampong, a lecturer at the Department of Sociology and Social work, KNUST, and team members stressed the importance of educating women on proper nutrient proportions.
“When women are educated on the right proportions of nutrients to use for the food that will be the way to go. So, we need to conscientise them when they get to know the benefits of the nutrients, then they can use it,” she added.
The District Chief Executive for Chereponi, Hajia Zuweiratu Mada Nashiru supports the initiative and pledges her office’s assistance.
“We in Chereponi are very lucky that this research is the first of its kind in the country, and we are very grateful. I want to assure you of full support for the project, and I will want to pledge the commitment of my office to ensure its success,” she added.
The District Director of Agriculture, Sigaway Kingsley tells Channel One News that prioritising egusi could improve the economic standards of families.
Chereponi district comprises about 90 to 95 per cent farmers, including women. They primarily cultivate cereals and legumes. One underutilised crop with the potential to supplement nutritional deficiencies is egusi, which is widely grown in the district.
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