Minister Stresses Importance Of Healthy Diet For All

Friday November 13, 2009
By Anna Bressers

The Minister designate for Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, has stressed the importance to ensure a nutritious and healthy diet for all Ghanaians in disease reduction and the wellbeing of the country.

“We are pushing the concept of nutrition and health which is at the heart of the new policy of the Ministry of Health”, he added.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf at the opening ceremony of a two-day special regenerative health and training workshop for chop bar operators on Thursday in Accra.

The workshop is initiated by the Ministry of Health together with Pro-Image Consult, and is part of the Ministry’s regenerative health and nutrition programme.

This programme aims at transforming the health and lives of Ghanaians to reduce the risk of disease occurrence and to contribute to the healthier and productive population. It thereby focuses on four key interventions: a healthy diet, exercise, rest and hygiene

The workshop, which is the first to be organized, takes place on November 12 to 13.

It aims at training chop bar operators in preparing nutritious traditional food under a hygienic condition, thereby focusing on adding more vegetables and reducing the meat, sugar, salt and fat in-take.

Also, new ways of cooking will be taught that help retain as much of the nutrition of the food as possible.

Mr Nathaniel Ebo Nsarko, CEO of Pro-Image Consult, emphasized the important role chop bar operators have in the country, as they serve over eighty five percent of the Ghanaian populace.

“It is sad to note that chop bar operators, who are the backbone of the country and the lifeline in terms of food production, do not have the needed support and skills they require in providing quality services to support the health delivery of the country”, he explained.

In addition, Mr Nsarko stated that improved cooking practice and food handling is not only part of health provision, but also critical in reducing the disease burden and the death rates in the country.

Mrs Addo, National President of the Indigenous Caterers Association Ghana, welcomed the long awaited training workshop for their members.

“We however call on government to assist us with more of such trainings and exchange programs to enable us to learn on our job and master our art of cooking to continue the preservation of our food culture as a nation”, she added

Posted under

Comments