On September 7, 2017, SPRING/Ghana hosted an event to share important lessons learned and accomplishments in improving maternal and child nutrition outcomes in Ghana from 2014 to 2017. This event was chaired by the Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service for the Northern Region, Naa Dr. Jacob Y. Mahama, and the guest of honor Regional Minister for the Northern Region, the Honorable Salifu Saeed.
SPRING developed the District Assessment Tool for Anemia (DATA) to assist countries in strengthening anemia programming at the district level. DATA helps districts determine factors contributing to anemia in their specific setting, identifies enablers and barriers to addressing anemia, and offers guidance for prioritizing interventions and actions to strengthen anemia-related programming.
Anemia is a widespread public health problem (table 1) that few countries have been able to reduce in compliance with World Health Assembly goals (figure 1). Anemia is characterized by a low concentration of hemoglobin in the blood and results in poor health and decreased economic development. For expectant mothers, serious maternal anemia increases the risk of mortality and morbidity. For children, it can mean low birth weight, prematurity, and impaired physical and cognitive development.
Anemia is a critical health problem in Ghana, affecting 66 percent of children under five and 42 percent of women of reproductive age (GSS, GHS, and ICF International 2014). It has significant adverse effects on the country’s health and economic development. High rates of anemia contribute to increased morbidity and mortality among infants, young children, and women (SPRING and GHS 2016).
For the last two years, SPRING/Uganda chaired the inspection and enforcement working group of the East Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC). To ensure the sustainability of the working group, SPRING transitioned this role to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, which has been one of SPRING’s key partners in ensuring adherence to fortification regulations and standards.
SPRING/Ghana developed this farmer field school (FFS) curriculum to improve farming practices and increase aflatoxin-safe groundnut crops for better household nutrition.
The Health Tutors’ College of Mulago (HTCM) developed and integrated a module on anemia prevention and control interventions into their three-year Bachelor of Medical Education degree program, with SPRING/Uganda’s support. Starting in the 2018/2019 academic year, the new curriculum will equip health tutors (teachers in health training institutions) with essential competencies on anemia and the capacity to transfer these competencies to their trainees.
SPRING officially launched activities in Bangladesh in April 2012.
At the end of June, SPRING released new National Anemia Profiles for Bangladesh, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, and