8,500 children malnourished yearly in the 3 northern regions

Malnutrition contributes to 4 out of 10 child deaths in Ghana. 8,500, that’s the number of severely malnourished children in the three regions of the North every year.

According to UNICEF, malnutrition is higher in the three regions of the North than the rest of Ghana.

Kwasi Ali, not his real name, is one year old. According to doctors at the Tamale Teaching hospital, Ali is severely malnourished. He suffers from diarrhea and other infections.

His mother started giving him Tuo zaafi, (TZ), when he was only 7 months old. Contrary to nutritionists' advice against giving babies semi solid foods.

Doctors say he has not been given sufficient quality food. Ali is just one out of 8,500 severely malnourished children in the three regions of the North, who need treatment every year.

Malnutrition causes 40 percent of childhood deaths according to UNICEF. The organization blames this on poor child caring practices, food shortages and poor access to health care.

As a result, the Ghana Health Service is working with UNICEF through the community management of acute malnutrition programme to reduce it.

7, 400 children have been treated for acute malnutrition between 2010 and 2012, through the community management of acute malnutrition programme.