BONO REGIONAL HEALTH DIRECTORATE RAISES ALARM OVER RISING CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND UNDERNUTRITION GAPS

The Bono Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has expressed growing concern over increasing cases of childhood overweight and obesity in the region. The issue, which health officials describe as alarming, was highlighted during a stakeholder engagement held in Sunyani as part of this year’s African Vaccination Week (AVW) and Child Health Promotion Week (CHPW) celebrations.

Mr. Joseph Owusu Asante, a nutritionist at the Nutrition Unit of the Directorate, attributed the surge in childhood obesity to poor eating habits and over-nutrition. He urged parents and guardians to pay closer attention to the nutritional choices of their children, emphasizing that neglect could result in serious health complications later in life, particularly after the age of 40.

“Children’s eating habits must be managed early. Frequent consumption of junk and processed foods does not benefit their health now or in the future,” Mr. Asante cautioned. He also encouraged families to promote physical activity by involving children in household tasks such as sweeping, washing, and cooking, in addition to outdoor play.

The stakeholder meeting served as a platform to raise awareness about the importance of child nutrition, immunization, and access to holistic health services. It brought together health professionals, community leaders, development partners, government agencies, and the media to enhance collaboration on child health initiatives.

Highlighting the region’s achievements, Mr. Asante reported notable progress in breastfeeding indicators over the past three years. Continued breastfeeding at one year reached 95.1% in 2024, up from 71% in 2023 and 93.3% in 2022. Exclusive breastfeeding at three months was also high, recording 90.5% in 2024, 84.8% in 2023, and 85.3% in 2022. Early initiation of breastfeeding stood at 95.6% in 2024, maintaining consistent performance across the previous two years.

However, the Directorate raised concern about low coverage of Vitamin A supplementation among children aged 12 to 59 months. While coverage for children aged 6 to 11 months consistently exceeds 90%, the rate for older children remains below 50%. Mr. Asante attributed the disparity to declining attendance at Child Welfare Clinics, often due to early enrollment of children in schools. He emphasized that Vitamin A plays a vital role in preventing blindness, boosting immunity, and supporting growth and development.

Dr. Prince Quarshie, Deputy Director of Public Health at the Bono Regional Health Directorate, appealed to stakeholders to support the Ghana Health Service in implementing government-led health initiatives. He reiterated the importance of joint efforts in achieving improved health outcomes across the region.

African Vaccination Week, an annual initiative by the World Health Organization since 2010, promotes immunization as a critical life-saving intervention. Similarly, the Child Health Promotion Week, introduced by Ghana’s Ministry of Health in 2004, aims to enhance child survival through nutrition, immunization, and preventive health services for children under five.