School Feeding Programme trains caterers

Caterers, cooks and head teachers benefitting from the National School Feeding Programme have undergone training on the use of a new food nutrient dubbed Micro-Nutrient Powder (MNP) at Bawku.

The training was to equip the participants with knowledge on the new product prescribed for the programme.

The MNP is a supplementary nutrient used to improve on the micronutrients intake of school-aged children in the short term whilst longer strategies such as dietary diversifications are implemented.

The training was organised by the Ghana School Feeding Programme with technical support from the Partnership for Child Development (PCD) and funded by the Dubai Cares, an international organisation working to support education in developing countries.

About 32 schools with 16,234 pupils are benefiting from the programme in the Bawku area while effort is being made to extend it to other schools under the programme.

Mr Immurana Dramani, Assistant Director in charge of Administration of the Bawku Municipal Assembly, said school feeding meals were generally made up of staples and that there was the need for the children to consume food that had adequate amounts of micronutrients to promote growth, health, productivity and mental development.

He said the provision of the MNP was a component of the PCD and the Dubai Cares support to help improve on the nutritional aspect of the Ghana School Feeding Programme.

Mr Dramani disclosed that other components including the development of menus with quantities, health and hygiene training for caterers, deworming and the implementation of a behaviour change communication campaign were being rolled out by the PCD and the Dubai Cares Support.

He called on parents to make good use of the initiatives being put in place by the Government and other organisations to ensure that children received quality meals.

Mr Emmanuel Adongo, Bawku Municipal Health and Nutrition Officer, urged participants to take the training seriously in order to achieve the intended aim of the MNP initiative.

He called on the trainees to apply the necessary skills in order to give good and nutritious meals to the children.