Prof. Matilda Steiner-Asiedu
Prof. Matilda Steiner-Asiedu, Dean, School of Biological Sciences has delivered an inaugural lecture on the topic: the Nutrition Landscape: Implications on our Human Resources and National Development. The lecture which marked the final inaugural lecture for the 2018/2019 academic year was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu.
Introducing the topic, Prof. Matilda Steiner-Asiedu noted that nutrition plays a key role in the development of individuals, families, communities, and the nation as a whole as good nutrition promotes good health whereas bad nutrition leads to bad health. She defined Nutrition as how the body receives food and uses it and draws on the Natural Sciences, Applied Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences. She affirmed that nutrition was being hampered by the incidence of climate change, bad water quality and the chemicalisation of food. This she indicated affects the availability, accessibility and adequate consumption of food.
In explaining the nutritional landscape of the country, Prof. Steiner-Asiedu revealed that Ghana faces the triple burden of malnutrition in the form of underweight, overweight and hidden hunger (micronutrient malnutrition). She reported that although Ghana had been commended for reducing poverty, hunger and malnutrition in recent times, malnutrition still persists in many parts of Ghana especially in the northern part of the country as well as the rural and peri-urban communities.
Reflecting on the Cost of Hunger Ghana Report, she revealed that 24% of all child mortality cases in Ghana are associated with under-nutrition, 10.5% of all repetitions in schools are associated with stunting as undernourished children achieve an average of 0.8 years less at school than well-nourished children. She also indicated that child mortality associated with under-nutrition had reduced Ghana’s workforce by 7.3% signifying that 37% of the adult population in Ghana suffered from stunting as children. The annual costs associated with child under-nutrition, according to the lecturer, are estimated at GH¢ 4.6 billion which is equivalent to 6.4 % of GDP.
Drawing from the latest Ghana Demographic Health Survey (GDHS) (2014), Prof. Steiner-Asiedu noted that 19% of children under-five are stunted, that is, they are too short for their age. On the other hand, about 5% of children are wasted, that is, they are too thin for their height, and this represents acute under-nutrition. Furthermore, 11% of Ghanaian children under five years are underweight, indicating they are too thin for their age. This represents both acute and chronic under-nutrition.
Prof Steiner-Asiedu reported that Hidden hunger was an issue of public health concern. According to her, symptoms of hidden hunger are not seen or recognised by all hence the minimal attention given to it. From (GDHS) the survey, Prof. Steiner Asiedu indicated that data showed that 35% of children under 5years were anaemic and 1/5th were vitamin A-deficient. Also among women of reproductive age, 7%, more than 50% and nearly 22% were vitamin B12, folate, and iron deficient respectively. The issue of micronutrient malnutrition, she noted, was as a result of the general reluctance of the population to consume fruits and vegetables, due to the myth that fruits are food for the sick and the relatively high cost of fruits and vegetables compared with staple foods.
On the issue of overweight, Prof. Steiner Asiedu reported that although Ghana was making excellent efforts in the reduction of all forms of under-nutrition, overweight or obesity was on the rise in all regions and across all segments of the population. This trend she indicated was quite significant in Greater Accra, Central and Volta Regions and skewed towards females with current statistics standing at about 40%, men at about 16% women. Among men it manifested itself mostly as visceral fat in the abdominal area which is commonly called pot belly. She hinted that it was rather unfortunate that most Ghanaians see pot belly as a sign of ‘good living’, a situation owing to the culture of high beer consumption which contains empty calories together with meat in excess coupled with late night eating.
She attributed the other cause of obesity to high consumption of restaurant and packed foods as well as frequent snacking. She noted that foods served at restaurants in Ghana have high content of caloric load (fats and oils and carbohydrates) and the frequent patronage of these restaurants have compounded the alarming rates of chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
In outlining the ways to promote good nutrition, Prof. Steiner-Asiedu encouraged the consumption of protective fruits and vegetables and an increase in physical activity. In order for Ghana to have a healthy working force, she advocated for policies that will ensure the creation of a conducive environment for walking and jogging across the country. Employers, she stated, could take the lead in creating places for staff to perform physical activities as physical activity was key in reducing Non-Communicable Diseases.
In sustaining effective human capital development through Nutrition, Prof. Steiner-Asiedu called for the adoption of the “all hands-on deck” approach. According to her, this was best required in removing barriers to optimal nutrition. She further advocated for the adoption of diversification of our diet, fortification of our staples among other foods like snacks, oils, bio-fortification of crops like potatoes, cassava, and the supplementation of food when necessary. She also called for the training of professionals to help enforce nutritional education of the populace. And scale the general nutrition of the country.
Concluding the lecture, Prof. Steiner-Asiedu called for Public-Private Partnership in implementing key sustainable programmes. She further encouraged the use of data in the nutrition landscape as key in policy formulation and implementation. She further called for the adoption of a holistic approach in dealing with nutritional problems to improve our human resource capacity and national development.
In his remarks, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Vice-Chancellor of the University and Chairman for the occasion, admonished all Ghanaians to be disciplined with what they eat. He further reiterated the adoption of a holistic approach in ensuring food security and good nutrition.
Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu
Earlier, Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo who represented the Registrar of the University stated that every academic who achieves the highest rank of full Professor in the University was expected to deliver an inaugural lecture. The Inaugural lecture, he acknowledged, offers the University an opportunity to showcase and educate the general public on research work being undertaken by the University. Mr. Baidoo indicated that Prof. Matilda Steiner-Asiedu’s Inaugural lecture also brings recognition to her department, the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, the School of Biological Sciences where she is Dean, and the College of Basic and Applied Sciences for producing yet another Professor.
Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo
A number of presentations were made to Prof. Steiner-Asiedu to congratulate her on her achievement.
In attendance were Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Provosts, Deans, Directors, members of the University community, family members, her network of corporate and social groups, as well as the general public.
Prof. Steiner-Asiedu receiving presentations
As a prelude to Prof. Matilda Steiner Asiedu’s Inaugural lecture, a week-long exhibition of her scholarly works was held at the Balme Library. The exhibition focused on her research interests in food and nutrition security: alleviating malnutrition and Non Communicable diseases across life stages, nutrition education, body weight control and obesity reduction advocacy, infant and child nutrition, dietary communication and behaviour changes. Other areas include health promotion with high/low literate populations and effect of processing on nutrients compositions of food.
Please click here for more photos of the event
