DESPITE years of intensified government efforts to combat anaemia, Ghana continues to grapple with a high prevalence of the condition, particularly among women and children, as revealed in a sub-report from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey released by health authorities on Wednesday.
The report discloses that approximately 41 percent of women aged 15 to 49 in Ghana are affected by anaemia, with an even higher prevalence of 51 percent among pregnant women. Shockingly, 49 percent of children aged six to 59 months also suffer from anaemia, indicating a pervasive health concern.
Chris Opoku Fofie, the deputy director for Reproductive and Child Health at the Ghana Health Service, stressed the urgent need to prioritise addressing anaemia in women and children due to its severe consequences. Anaemia in adults, characterised by fatigue and lethargy, poses significant risks, especially for pregnant women, leading to increased maternal mortality and poor birth outcomes.
Fofie emphasised proactive measures, stating, ‘We need to start by administering iron tablets to adolescent girls to control and eliminate anaemia in them before they reach the reproductive stage. And women should also ensure that their haemoglobin levels are normal and deal with possible anaemia before getting pregnant.’
The report underscores the importance of targeted interventions and a comprehensive approach to tackle anaemia in Ghana, signalling a call to action for both health authorities and the public to address this persistent public health challenge.