WOMEC and CAPHA Launch Capacity Building Workshop to Combat Malnutrition in Ghana
Women, Media and Change (WOMEC) and Coalition of Actors for Public Health Advocacy (CAPHA) held a capacity building workshop for civil society organizations and media personalities on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the Erata Hotel in East Legon, Accra. The workshop focused on maternal and child nutrition advocacy in Ghana, with the aim of equipping participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to advocate for increased leadership and action to combat malnutrition in the country.
Malnutrition: A Silent Crisis in Ghana
In her remarks, Dr. Charity Binka, Executive Director of WOMEC, described malnutrition as a national emergency that threatens Ghana’s development, weakens its workforce, and steals the potential of its children. She cited statistics showing that 18% of children under five in Ghana suffer from stunting and 7.9% from wasting, highlighting the need for urgent action to address the issue.
A Call to Action
Dr. Binka called on the government to make nutrition a budgeted, cross-sector priority at national, regional, and district levels. She also emphasized the importance of promoting exclusive breastfeeding, good complementary feeding, and hygienic food practices, and urged the media to play a critical role in shaping public opinion and putting malnutrition at the top of the national agenda.
Partnership and Advocacy
WOMEC and CAPHA will continue to engage partners, parliamentarians, and nutrition champions over the next year to intensify advocacy on malnutrition. The organizations will also launch national media campaigns to raise awareness and build momentum for action. The partnership is expected to contribute significantly to the fight against malnutrition in Ghana.
Unlocking Ghana’s Full Potential
Fighting malnutrition, Dr. Binka said, is not just about saving lives; it’s about unlocking Ghana’s full potential. When we invest in nutrition, we invest in education, health, economic growth, and social progress. The workshop was a call to action, an opportunity to build strategies that are bold, partnerships that are lasting, and momentum that is unstoppable.
The workshop marked the beginning of a new chapter in the fight against malnutrition in Ghana, with WOMEC and CAPHA leading the charge. With the support of partners like the Eleanor Crook Foundation, the organizations are committed to creating a Ghana where no mother must watch her child grow weak from hunger, where every child can grow up strong, and where nutrition is recognized not as a privilege but a fundamental right.
