Accra, June 6, GNA – A recent study by the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, has revealed high levels of anaemia among school-aged children in parts of the country.
The findings, from research conducted between 2024 and 2025 in Kyekyewere in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region, have renewed calls for greater attention to child nutrition and iron intake.
Ms Salome Azevedo, the Managing Director of Nestlé Ghana, said this at the launch of “NIDO Iron for Focus” campaign to raise awareness about iron deficiency and promote better nutrition to support children’s growth, concentration and learning outcomes.
She said iron deficiency remained a major public health challenge in Ghana, particularly among children and pregnant women.
Ms Azevedo noted that data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, which reported that 49 per cent of children aged six to 59 months experienced iron deficiency.
She said inadequate iron intake could affect more than physical health, reducing children’s ability to concentrate, participate in school activities and achieve their full learning potential.
“Good nutrition is not only about meeting today’s needs; it is about helping children build the foundation they need for tomorrow,” she said.
Ms Azeve noted that deficiency could be reduced through healthier diets and increased consumption of iron-rich foods.
Balanced diets that included iron-rich foods could significantly improve children’s growth, focus and overall development, she said.
As Nestlé prepares to mark 70 years in Ghana, she said the company remained committed to contributing to family wellbeing through nutrition initiatives.
Mr Kwabena Adarkwa, Category Manager for Nutrition at Nestlé Ghana, said the campaign was intended to make nutritional information more visible to parents at the point of purchase.
“This is more than a product launch. It is an opportunity to highlight how good nutrition can help children stay focused, learn better and reach their full potential,” he said.
Mr Adarkwa explained that NIDO had long been fortified with iron and that the campaign aimed to increase awareness of the nutrient’s role in supporting children’s focus, learning and everyday performance.
He noted that iron deficiency and anaemia could lower children’s energy levels, weaken concentration and limit participation in both learning and play.
Mr Adarkwa encouraged parents to complement fortified foods with iron-rich local foods such as animal proteins and legumes and combine them with vitamin C-rich foods to improve iron absorption.
One sachet of NIDO, he noted, provided approximately 50 per cent of the daily iron requirement for school-aged children between four and 12 years.
He said the campaign sought to help parents better understand and appreciate the nutritional value already available in the product.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Writer: Albert Oppong-Ansah
Email: [email protected]