Ghana on Wednesday launched a National Food Fortification programme aimed at addressing micronutrient deficiencies, particularly afflicting women and children in the country.The programme, which is under the auspices of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) and the Ghana Standard Board (GSB), is funded by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.Launching the programme, Major Courage Quashigah (rtd), Minister of Health, said Ghana had taken an important step to fortify wheat flour with a cocktail of vitamins and minerals including iron, Vitamins A and B and folic acid.It would also fortify vegetable oil with Vitamin A, as part of a comprehensive effort to reduce micronutrient malnutrition in the country.He said the challenge was to ensure a high coverage of target groups and sustainable implementation.Major Quashigah stressed that success of the programme would depend on effective information sharing among partners and entreated all stakeholders, health and nutrition experts to bring their support and expertise to bear on the process.He further challenged the media to carry on with an intensive education drive to sensitize the public to patronize fortified food products to ensure optimum health and ultimately survival."Our focus is to encourage health interventions that are highly cost-effective, not only in the case of infectious diseases, but prevention of chronic diseases through lifestyle fortification and eating of nutritious foods that have been fortified with vitamins and minerals.”The Minister expressed gratitude to GAIN, UNICEF and all other supporting partners, stressing that the programme was a veritable example of public-private partnership to ensure quality health for all Ghanaians. Giving an overview of the health status of the nation in relation to micronutrients deficiencies, Mr Jacob Armah, Deputy Director, Public Health Nutrition, GHS and Chairman of the National Food Fortification Alliance (NFFA), highlighted some worrying statistics.He said demographic and health surveys conducted in the country indicated a high prevalence of anaemia among women and children, with pregnant women accounting for 65 per cent, 76 per cent for pre-school children and 41 per cent for women of child bearing age. It also accounted for 20 per cent of maternal deaths.Mr Armah noted that in the case of Vitamin A, which was used in fortifying vegetable oil, current data indicated that about 72 per cent of the country's under-five population were affected by Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD), contributing to one in three deaths of children between the ages of six and 59 months.He said a draft legislative instrument aimed at regulating the importation of food products was currently before Parliament, while a 30-member NFFA composed of representatives from public institutions, government regulatory bodies, research institutions, food industries, private sector and international development partners had been formed to ensure the effective implementation of the programme.According to Mrs Eunice Djokoto, UNICEF Representative, said the launch was the long collaboration between UNICEF, the government and key players in the food chain industry.She said statistics indicated that in Ghana about 40,000 children were at risk annually from anaemia deficiency - lack of vitamins and minerals - with devastating consequence such as low Intelligence Quota, poor health, diseases and reduced national productivity. Dr. Regina Moench-Pfanner, Senior Manager, GAIN, said with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation a total of 19 projects had been established throughout Africa including Ghana, with government ensuring policy guideline and monitoring with industry and partners implementing the programmes.She said the aim of the programme was to cover a population of about 16 million (80 per cent), mostly children between the ages of two and five years.Prof. Richard Mkandawire, Agricultural Advisor, NEPAD, said Ghana was now seen as a lead nation in Africa in addressing developmental issues particularly hunger and poverty issues."Ghana is not only considered as a lead country in furthering democracy and good governance, but also in the reduction of vitamins and minerals deficiency in Africa as well as facilitating and enhancing economic growth," he said.Source: GNA