National Nutrition Policy for Ghana 2013–2017.
Country
Type of law
Policy
Abstract
The main purpose of this National Nutrition Policy (NNP) is to: a) re-position nutrition as a cross cutting issue; b) facilitate integration and mainstreaming of nutrition into all national development efforts; c) provide the framework for nutrition services and interventions in Ghana, and d) guide the implementation of high-impact interventions, and e) strengthen sectoral capacity for the effective delivery of these interventions.
The long-term goal of the Policy is to ensure optimal nutrition and health of all persons living in Ghana in order to enhance capacity for sustainable economic growth and development. The policy supports four strategic objectives, namely to: 1) promote optimal nutrition as an essential component of health and development among all people living in Ghana; 2) increase access to and create demand for quality and timely interventions, for effective control of priority nutrition problems in Ghana; 3) promote food security, food quality, and food safety at the individual, household, community, and national levels; 4) create an enabling environment for the effective co-ordination, integration, and implementation of nutrition programmes in Ghana.
In particular, Chapter 5 deals in great detail with Policy Measures. Objective 3 focuses on promotion of food security, and assurance of food quality and food safety at the individual, household, community, and national levels. To reach this objective practices that will ensure availability, access, diversity, proper storage and utilization of variety of foods shall be promoted, as well as agricultural practices that encourage increased and diversified food crop, livestock and fisheries productions.
Chapter 4 lays down provisions relating to the Policy Framework listing its Guiding Principles upon which the implementation of the Policy will be based: 1) Adequate Nutrition is a Universal Human Right: The right for all people living in Ghana to have access to safe and nutritious diets shall be observed in accordance with the fundamental basic human right to be free from malnutrition and related disorders; 2). Effective Inter-Sectoral Partnership and Co-ordination: Nutrition issues are multidisciplinary in nature, and therefore will be best addressed through well-co-ordinated multi-sectoral approaches; 3) Nutrition is a Priority Health and Human Development Issue: The health and economic development of Ghana is closely linked to the nutrition of Ghanaians. 4) Gender Considerations and the Needs of All Vulnerable Groups are given Special Attention: Gender equality and equity will be enhanced in all nutrition initiatives to ensure improved nutritional status of women, men, girls, and boys. Efforts shall be devoted to improving women’s social status relative to that of men in all aspects of nutrition; 5) Decentralisation of Resources and Interventions: Implementation of nutrition activities will yield the expected impact on communities if they are linked to the decentralisation policy of government; 6) Community Empowerment and Participation are essential: Empowerment of communities with adequate nutritional knowledge, skills, and resources will be key to the successful implementation of this policy; 7) Evidenced-based and Effective Interventions will be Implemented at Scale: All nutrition initiatives and interventions will be based on scientifically proven evidence and best practices.
The implementation, monitoring and evaluation of this Policy will be co-ordinated at the national, regional, and district levels. At the national level, the establishment of an inter-ministerial/agency co-ordination mechanism at the highest executive level will ensure cross-sector policy formulation and implementation. The strategic and detailed operational plans necessary for implementing the actions in the policy will be developed by stakeholders.
The text consists of 7 Chapters as follows: Introduction (1); Situation Analysis (2); Purpose of the National Nutrition Policy (3); The Policy Framework (4); Policy Measures (5); Co-ordination, Human Resource Development, and System Strengthening (6); Conclusion (7)
The long-term goal of the Policy is to ensure optimal nutrition and health of all persons living in Ghana in order to enhance capacity for sustainable economic growth and development. The policy supports four strategic objectives, namely to: 1) promote optimal nutrition as an essential component of health and development among all people living in Ghana; 2) increase access to and create demand for quality and timely interventions, for effective control of priority nutrition problems in Ghana; 3) promote food security, food quality, and food safety at the individual, household, community, and national levels; 4) create an enabling environment for the effective co-ordination, integration, and implementation of nutrition programmes in Ghana.
In particular, Chapter 5 deals in great detail with Policy Measures. Objective 3 focuses on promotion of food security, and assurance of food quality and food safety at the individual, household, community, and national levels. To reach this objective practices that will ensure availability, access, diversity, proper storage and utilization of variety of foods shall be promoted, as well as agricultural practices that encourage increased and diversified food crop, livestock and fisheries productions.
Chapter 4 lays down provisions relating to the Policy Framework listing its Guiding Principles upon which the implementation of the Policy will be based: 1) Adequate Nutrition is a Universal Human Right: The right for all people living in Ghana to have access to safe and nutritious diets shall be observed in accordance with the fundamental basic human right to be free from malnutrition and related disorders; 2). Effective Inter-Sectoral Partnership and Co-ordination: Nutrition issues are multidisciplinary in nature, and therefore will be best addressed through well-co-ordinated multi-sectoral approaches; 3) Nutrition is a Priority Health and Human Development Issue: The health and economic development of Ghana is closely linked to the nutrition of Ghanaians. 4) Gender Considerations and the Needs of All Vulnerable Groups are given Special Attention: Gender equality and equity will be enhanced in all nutrition initiatives to ensure improved nutritional status of women, men, girls, and boys. Efforts shall be devoted to improving women’s social status relative to that of men in all aspects of nutrition; 5) Decentralisation of Resources and Interventions: Implementation of nutrition activities will yield the expected impact on communities if they are linked to the decentralisation policy of government; 6) Community Empowerment and Participation are essential: Empowerment of communities with adequate nutritional knowledge, skills, and resources will be key to the successful implementation of this policy; 7) Evidenced-based and Effective Interventions will be Implemented at Scale: All nutrition initiatives and interventions will be based on scientifically proven evidence and best practices.
The implementation, monitoring and evaluation of this Policy will be co-ordinated at the national, regional, and district levels. At the national level, the establishment of an inter-ministerial/agency co-ordination mechanism at the highest executive level will ensure cross-sector policy formulation and implementation. The strategic and detailed operational plans necessary for implementing the actions in the policy will be developed by stakeholders.
The text consists of 7 Chapters as follows: Introduction (1); Situation Analysis (2); Purpose of the National Nutrition Policy (3); The Policy Framework (4); Policy Measures (5); Co-ordination, Human Resource Development, and System Strengthening (6); Conclusion (7)
Attached files
Date of text
Repealed
No
Source language
English
Legislation Amendment
No