maternal child nutrition
Ghana is squarely focused on their millennium development goals and more specifically goals of four and five: maternal and child health. At MCN Foundation this is central to our mission – improving the health and well-being of families. Women are pivotal in creating, building and sustaining healthy communities. As women, we built this organization on women. Founded by women, to support women, raising women to lead women and build a healthier world. It is a giant goal that has small steps and simple milestones. Educate one woman on how to care for herself and her child and you have taken large steps towards a healthier house, village, community and country.
Ghana is important. It has one of the most advanced education systems on the continent. There are over 50 ethnic groups in Ghana who speak 45 native languages. It is one of the most natural resource rich countries in the continent as well as one of the most wirelessly connected nations. Ghana’s advancement is in many ways Africa’s advancement.
The educational tools in the rural regions of Ghana are essentially simple acts anyone can do or teach another to do. That is what we are about – education and empowerment to improve health for women and families across the world. Simple steps can improve the health of mother and child and increase the chances of survival. Let’s start with nutrition:
Many children suffer from severe infections, chronic medical problems, and permanent neurodevelopmental impairments due to lack of vitamin A, iron, folic acid, iodine, zinc, and other essential nutrients.
- Foods rich in vitamin A: liver, dried fruits, leafy greens, sweet potatoes, carrots, dried herbs
- Foods rich in iron: red meat, egg yolks, dark leafy greens (spinach, collards), dried fruit (prunes, raisins), iron-enriched cereals and grains (check the labels), mollusks (oysters, clams, scallops), turkey or chicken giblets, beans, lentils, chick peas and soybeans, liver, artichokes
- Foods rich in folic acid: beans and legumes, leafy greens, citrus and fortified juices, cereals fortified with folic acid and liver
- Foods rich in iodine: dried seaweed, cod, baked potato, milk, shrimp, eggs, turkey breast and plain yogurt.
- Foods rich in zinc: oysters, wheat germ, veal liver, roast beef, dark chocolate, peanuts, lamb and crab.
That is what women are – caregivers of our world. To learn more about the work we do in Ghana and throughout the world visit www.mcnfoundation.org and give us your time, your thoughts, and a bit of support.
