Accra, March 26, – Key health stakeholders have validated a draft National Nutrition Guidelines aimed at improving the care and treatment outcomes of children diagnosed with cancer in Ghana.
The Ghana Health Service, in partnership with World Child Cancer (WCC), organised the one-day validation meeting as part of efforts to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based framework to guide nutritional support for paediatric cancer patients.
The meeting brought together representatives from health institutions and allied organisations to review the draft document and provide input for its finalisation.
Dr Ignatius Awinbuno, Director of Allied Sciences at the Ministry of Health, commended the initiative, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening paediatric healthcare delivery.
He noted that while survival rates for childhood cancer exceeded 80 per cent in high-income countries, they remained below 30 per cent in many low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana.
Dr Awinbuno explained that malnutrition was a key factor contributing to the disparity, as it both influenced and resulted from cancer and its treatment.
“Nutrition plays a critical role in treatment outcomes. Adequate support improves tolerance to therapy, speeds recovery, reduces complications, and enhances survival rates,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to ensure that the final guidelines were practical, context-specific, and aligned with global best practices.
Dr Nihad Salifu, a Paediatric Oncologist at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, highlighted the need for specialised nutritional care for children undergoing cancer treatment.
She explained that treatments often led to appetite loss, nausea, and vomiting, making standard nutritional approaches inadequate for such patients.
Dr Salifu disclosed that studies conducted at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital showed that about 40 per cent of children presented with malnutrition at diagnosis, with many others becoming malnourished during treatment.
She said the guidelines would provide standardised protocols for managing the nutritional needs of children with cancer across all treatment centres in the country.
“This will ensure consistency in care and enable health professionals to track outcomes and identify areas for improvement,” she said.
She added that the framework would also support training for healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and nutritionists involved in paediatric oncology.
Madam Adwoa Pinamang Boateng Desu, Country Coordinator of WCC, called on public institutions and corporate organisations to support the initiative to enhance structured nutritional care for affected children.
Participants at the meeting reviewed the document, provided technical input on implementation strategies, and reached consensus on recommendations to guide its adoption and nationwide rollout.
GHBUSS
26 March 2026
No comments:
Post a Comment