|
UN report shows rise in underweight
children in Ghana
Koforidua, Aug. 13, Ghanadot/GNA –
The number of underweight children as a result of
malnutrition continues to rise in Ghana, a progress report
of the UN Special Session on children has revealed.
The report indicated that one in every five children in
Ghana, representing 18 percent of the child population, was
underweight whilst 22 percent stunted or too short for their
age. Five percent of children were also found be too thin
for their height.
According to the report, few children were found to be
overweight against recent observation that children across
the world were becoming obese.
Mr Kyei Gyamfi, of the Information Research and Advocacy
Division (IRAD) of the Ministry of Children and Women’s
Affairs (MOWAC), who presented the report at a regional
stakeholders meeting in Koforidua, therefore called for
action on the findings of the report.
He said the report indicated that exclusive breastfeeding
and the used of iodized salt were also lower than that
recommended in Ghana.
About 54 percent of children less than six months, he said,
were exclusively breastfed and in terms of salt iodization,
the percentage of household usage was 49 per cent with only
32 percent used iodized salt.
Mr Gyamfi said the report showed evidence of children
involved in commercial sex work in Ghana and that the
country serves as a transit point for child trafficking.
He said it also provided information on the progress made
with the World Fit for Children (WFFC) goals of a UN
Declaration on the Rights of Children, the Millennium
Development Goals and goals critical to Ghana’s own agenda
for growth and prosperity.
Mrs Florence Ayisi-Quartey, of the IRAD-MOWAC said the
report covered the first five years of the United Nations’
10-year goals to ensure the child’s rights, survival,
development and protection.
She said it is termed the Plus 5 Review Report and stressed
that the findings showed that there were various gaps that
needed to be filled to ensure that Ghana presented a better
report in the next five years at the UN.
GNA
|
