By: Murtala Issah
In a significant step towards addressing the issue of malnutrition among children, the University for Development Studies (UDS) has introduced a groundbreaking product called C-real.
Developed through years of collaborative research between UDS, the University of York in the UK, and the Savannah Sahel Commodities Ltd, C-real aims to combat malnutrition among children in Ghana.
The product is made from locally sourced food items such as rice, soybeans, and maize, and is fortified with eighteen essential minerals and vitamins. This unique combination aims to boost child development and improve the overall well-being of children under the age of five.
Though Ghana has made progress in reducing child mortalities, the national average for neonatal and under-five mortalities from the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS) are estimated at 27 and 56 deaths per 1000 live births respectively.
Experts have identified malnutrition as a major contributor to children’s survival and development in Ghana. The phenomenon accounts for over twenty percent of child deaths in the country. It also leads to stunted growth and impaired brain function. According to UNICEF, the prevalence of stunting in Northern Ghana is significantly higher than the national average, with nearly thirty percent of children in the region affected. Additionally, approximately eight percent of children in the region experience wasting.
Experts highlight that only twelve percent of children aged six to twenty-three months in Ghana receive diets of high quality and recommended frequency for proper growth and development. The limited access to quality and affordable food for children exacerbates the situation.
During the product launch, the Vice Chancellor of UDS, Professor Seidu Al-hassan, emphasized the crucial role of universities in identifying challenges and providing innovative solutions. He highlighted how the UDS is committed to tackling issues of national importance, such as child malnutrition, through cutting-edge research and initiatives like C-real.
The introduction of C-real provides hope for combating malnutrition among Ghanaian children, offering a practical and locally sourced solution. With its focus on boosting child development and addressing undernutrition, C-real has the potential to significantly improve the well-being and future prospects of children in the country.
The development is also a major step in supporting national efforts to attain the Sustainable Development Goals two and three. SDG goal two aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030.
SDG goal three seeks to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age. Under this objective, countries around the world including Ghana, are aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least twelve per one thousand live births and under-five mortality to at least twenty-five per one thousand live births.
