While public attention often focuses on politics and the economy, Ghana is facing another crisis that health experts say could have devastating long-term consequences—a growing burden of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that is putting thousands of lives at risk and straining the country’s healthcare system.
Across hospitals and health centres, children are battling severe acute malnutrition, pregnant women continue to suffer from anaemia, and cases of hypertension, diabetes, stroke and cancer are rising steadily among adults.
Health experts warn that without sustained investment and urgent policy action, the country could face higher mortality rates, reduced productivity, escalating healthcare costs and significant setbacks to national development.
These concerns were highlighted during a national nutrition engagement organised by the WOMEC Foundation, Eleanor Crook Foundation, Nourish Ghana and the Health Access Initiative under the Nourish Ghana Project.
Thousands of Children Missing Out on Life-Saving Treatment
Presenting findings at the engagement, Abdul-Fatahi Adam, Senior Analyst for Child Health at the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), disclosed that Ghana records an estimated 68,517 cases of severe acute malnutrition each year.
However, only 16 per cent of affected children were diagnosed and admitted for treatment in 2024.
The presentation also revealed that 51 per cent of pregnant women suffer from anaemia. In comparison, 11 per cent of babies are born with low birth weight, exposing both mothers and infants to increased health complications and mortality risks.
Health professionals say the challenge extends beyond food shortages and is driven by poverty, poor nutrition, inadequate healthcare financing, limited public awareness and delayed access to treatment.
Poverty, Poor Diets and Weak Health Systems Fuel the Crisis
Experts say rising food prices, unemployment and weak health systems continue to worsen Ghana’s nutrition challenges.
In many deprived communities, pregnant women struggle to afford balanced diets, while parents often delay seeking medical care for malnourished children due to long travel distances, financial constraints and misconceptions about the condition.
Some caregivers, health workers noted, still attribute severe malnutrition to spiritual causes or ordinary childhood illnesses, resulting in dangerously late treatment.
Proven Interventions Still Out of Reach
Health experts identified two interventions capable of significantly reducing child deaths and improving maternal health outcomes if adequately financed.
The first is Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a nutrient-rich peanut-based food used to treat children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, enabling many to recover at home without prolonged hospital admission.
The second is Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for pregnant women. Global evidence shows MMS can reduce low birth weight by 12 per cent, stillbirths by 8 per cent, and preterm births by 7 per cent.
Experts estimate that every dollar invested in the supplements generates approximately 37 dollars in economic and health benefits. Despite these proven interventions, access remains limited.
Data presented during the engagement showed that although admissions for severe acute malnutrition increased in 2025, only 23.3 per cent of identified cases received RUTF treatment during the first quarter of 2026.
Even more concerning, the cure rate declined to 63 per cent, well below the internationally accepted Sphere Standard target of 85 per cent.
Health experts attributed the shortfall to inadequate domestic financing, donor dependency, supply chain challenges, weak policy implementation and limited public education.
Progress Recorded Despite Funding Challenges
Despite existing constraints, CHAI reported significant progress over the past year.
More than 13,000 cartons of quality-assured Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food were distributed nationwide in 2025, while 610 healthcare workers across 14 districts received specialised training in the community management of acute malnutrition.
Approximately 5,165 children benefited from CHAI-supported interventions, contributing to a 46 per cent increase in treatment rates between January and December 2025.
In addition, over 35,800 bottles of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements were distributed to pilot health facilities to improve maternal nutrition and pregnancy outcomes.
Calls for Sustainable Financing
Stakeholders are urging the government to include both RUTF and MMS under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) reimbursement package.
According to health advocates, this would reduce the financial burden on families, strengthen supply chains, improve nationwide access and reduce Ghana’s dependence on external donor support.
The appeal follows Ghana’s commitment at the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris to allocate at least US$6 million annually towards essential nutrition commodities from 2026.
However, experts insist that the pledge must be supported by dedicated budget allocations, effective procurement systems and strong implementation mechanisms.
Non-Communicable Diseases on the Rise
Alongside malnutrition, Ghana is also experiencing a rapid increase in non-communicable diseases, which now account for nearly 45 per cent of all deaths nationwide.
Presenting on the relationship between NCDs and Free Primary Healthcare, Rev. Prince Baidoo said hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases continue to rise across the country.
Hypertension remains among the most common health conditions affecting adults, while diabetes prevalence is increasing, particularly in urban communities.
Health experts attribute the trend to unhealthy diets, excessive salt and sugar consumption, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, alcohol use, stress, rapid urbanisation and poor mental health.
The country is also recording increasing cases of breast, cervical, prostate and liver cancers.
Experts warn that Ghana now faces a “double burden” in which infectious diseases and chronic lifestyle diseases are increasing simultaneously, placing enormous pressure on health facilities and household finances.
Prevention Must Become the Priority
Health advocates believe Ghana’s Free Primary Healthcare policy has the potential to significantly reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases through early detection, routine screening and preventive care.
The policy includes hypertension and diabetes screening, nutrition counselling, antenatal care, immunisation, family planning and basic outpatient services.
Stakeholders are calling for stronger investment in preventive healthcare, nutrition education, routine community screening, healthy lifestyle campaigns and improved public awareness.
They also emphasised the critical role of the media in educating citizens, highlighting gaps in healthcare delivery and holding policymakers accountable for commitments made on nutrition and health financing.
A National Development Challenge
Health experts say addressing malnutrition and non-communicable diseases is no longer solely a healthcare issue but a national development imperative.
They are urging the Government, Parliament, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and the National Health Insurance Authority to increase domestic investment in nutrition programmes, strengthen community health services, improve healthcare infrastructure, expand access to affordable healthy foods and reinforce public education campaigns.
According to the experts, the choices Ghana makes today will determine whether thousands of children and mothers survive tomorrow.
Without urgent and sustained action, they warn, the country’s silent nutrition and health crisis could become one of the greatest obstacles to its future economic growth, productivity and social development.
Source: Christian Ahodie Yaw