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September was ‘iron deficiency month’ for the ‘Live Strong with Iron’ campaign as campaign stakeholders used popular radio platforms in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi to educate the public on the prevalence of the deficiency iron, simple solutions and real life stories. of people with the condition.
When the month-long discussion came to an end; the team recapitulated what was discussed in recent weeks. Various scenarios were used to get the message home.
There was the case of pregnant women and their mother-in-law who insisted that she increase her iron level by eating foods rich in iron; the child Kojo, whose mother was concerned that he was not growing well; and adolescent Ama, who due to her desire to be a celebrity was reducing her food intake to suit the celebrity lifestyle.
The campaign provided listeners with an opportunity to telephone with their disturbing questions about iron deficiency for panelists to help address.
Issues related to iron overload, knowing when a baby’s iron level is low, the effects of iron deficiency, and how the campaign message will spread in rural areas.
For pregnant women, eating iron-rich foods and iron-fortified foods is essential, as it helps the body produce more blood.
This is very important for expectant moms because they need extra blood throughout the pregnancy for themselves and their growing baby. Adequate iron also reduces the frequent tiredness during pregnancy.
Reiterating iron for babies, they summarized that breastfeeding is very important for their development.
After the first six months of exclusive breastfeeding when mothers begin to wean, they should ensure that they include foods rich in iron and fortified foods to safeguard the proper growth and development of the child. They should also continue to breastfeed for up to two years and as long as possible after introducing complementary foods.
In adolescents, iron needs increase to fuel their growth and physical development. In particular, it is a critical nutritional period for adolescent girls because they need higher levels of iron to replace the blood lost during menstruation. Without this, they can develop iron deficiency anemia.
In answering the question about the effects of iron deficiency anemia, frequent headaches, tiredness, fatigue, cold, shortness of breath, brittle nails, restlessness, poor concentration, loss of appetite were cited.
The panellists highlighted that iron deficiency is a serious public health problem. It is a common nutritional condition; 4 out of 10 women of childbearing age and 6 out of 10 children under the age of 5 are iron deficient.
Strategies to prevent and treat iron deficiency anemia include promoting an adequate nutritional lifestyle; eat iron-rich foods and fortified foods that are readily available and affordable, such as green leafy vegetables, agushie, nuts, beans, red meat, chicken, and fish, among others.
Also packaged foods fortified with iron such as cereals, powdered milk, drinks and spices, among others. In addition, taking fruits with vitamin C, such as oranges, right after meals, helps our body absorb more iron from food.
The panelists gladly signed on to the program, as they emphasized that for all those at risk of iron deficiency, diet is essential, therefore, the foods they eat must provide enough iron, enough for the body to meet its needs during this special period of their lives.
Panelists included Naana Anane Adjei, Registered Dietitian, Madam Mavis Gyasi, Senior Dietitian at Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Ms. Efua Owusu-Ansah, Senior Dietitian at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and Oheneyere Gifty Anti, a renowned TV presenter. and an influencer for the campaign.
The Nestlé campaign encouraged all Ghanaians to take action by eating foods rich in iron to live strong with iron.
