The Ghanaian Times is deeply concerned about the disturbing revelation that only 25 per cent of children diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in the country are currently receiving the lifesaving Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) they need for survival and recovery.
In simple terms, this means that only one in every four severely malnourished children is getting the treatment that could save their life.
This is not just a health statistic. It is a national emergency unfolding quietly in homes, clinics and communities across the country.
SAM, which mainly affects children under five, leaves them dangerously weak, extremely thin and highly vulnerable to infections.
Without early and proper treatment, many of these children do not survive.
Yet, despite an estimated 68,517 cases recorded annually, only 14,385 children out of a target of 25,000 have so far been reached with RUTF interventions. The gap is too wide to ignore.
At a stakeholder meeting in Accra to address Ghana’s malnutrition crisis, experts painted a worrying picture.
Admissions for SAM treatment may have tripled in recent years, but cure rates are declining.
This suggests that while more cases are being identified, the system’s capacity to respond effectively is weakening. This is unacceptable.
The Ghanaian Times notes that one of the major challenges is the funding and supply of RUTF, which remains largely donor-dependent or paid for out-of-pocket by families.
This situation is neither sustainable nor equitable. When treatment depends on charity or personal means, the most vulnerable inevitably suffer.
We are particularly encouraged by the call from health experts for the inclusion of RUTF in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) essential package.
This is a practical and necessary step. It would guarantee stable financing, reduce the burden on families, and ensure consistent nationwide access to treatment.
Ghana has made several commitments under global nutrition frameworks, including the Nutrition for Growth agenda, yet implementation continues to lag behind ambition.
Commitment without financing is simply aspiration without impact. The consequences of inaction are far-reaching.
Beyond the immediate risk of child mortality, malnutrition undermines cognitive development, educational attainment, and future productivity.
As rightly observed by the President of the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Rev. Prince Baidoo, investment in nutrition yields some of the highest economic returns and protects national development in the long term.
The Ghanaian Times therefore calls on government to treat this issue with the urgency it deserves.
The Ministry of Health, the National Health Insurance Authority, and all relevant stakeholders must move beyond discussions and take concrete steps to integrate RUTF into the NHIS benefits package without delay.
We also urge Parliament to support the necessary policy and budgetary reforms that will ensure sustainable domestic financing for nutrition interventions.
Ghana cannot continue to rely heavily on donors for a matter that directly affects the survival of its children.
We must remember that behind every percentage point lies a child, a life that can be saved or lost depending on how quickly we act.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
