Prof. Richmond Aryeetey
On Friday, October 29, 2021, the School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, organised a press briefing on the Accra Urban Adolescent Nutrition Study for the media to assist in disseminating genuine information concerning the study to the general understanding of the public and to ease the uncertainty and misinformation circulating about the research project.
The Acting Dean, School of Public Health, Prof. Kwesi Torpey, stated in his welcome address that the session was to give out an opportunity to correct miscommunications, misconceptions and concerning issues regarding the study for the right information to be published.
Acting Dean, School of Public Health, Prof. Kwesi Torpey
Speaking on the study, the Project Lead (Ghana), Accra Urban Adolescent Nutrition Study, Prof. Richmond Aryeetey, noted that the study was being conducted in partnership with the International Food Policy Research Institute due to the scarce knowledge on school food environments. He explained that since children between the ages of 12-19 years are exposed to unhealthy inappropriate food advertisement and spend most of their time at school, parents are, sometimes, unaware of the meals provided and the conditions under which they are sold to the adolescent.
He added that the research is approved and supported by the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Educational Service and the Review Board of Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR). Therefore, the alarming and disturbing news circulated by some individuals on the study is untrue.
Prof. Aryeetey reiterated that the study could not proceed without the consent of parents and guardians of participating adolescents. Some of the parents who had their wards taking part in the study spoke to the misbelief concerning the study and assured the public that their wards were safe.
At the end of the press briefing, participants, together with the media, had the opportunity to ask questions for further clarification.
Section of media personnel at the event
The Director, Public Affairs Directorate, Mrs. Elizier T. Ameyaw-Buronyah, expressed appreciation to the School of Public Health, the media, parents and all participants for their presence.
Please click on the link below for further details about the study.
