The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has accentuated its support to Ghana’s efforts to provide comprehensive care for COVID-19 patients in isolation facilities, with a contribution of 10,800 bags of specialized nutritious food worth GHC300,000.

The supply would cover three months of feeding for 4,000 patients.

“We are living in very challenging times where we must come together to care for one another, hence the support to complement the work of the Government of Ghana,” Ms Rukia Yacoub, WFP Representative and Country Director, said in a release copied to the Ghana News Agency.

“The specialized nutritious food we are providing is one of several excellent, highly nutritious Made-in-Ghana products, which WFP has helped to develop and market thanks to generous funding from Canada”, she said.

Ms Yacoub said the specialized nutritious foods are made of blended cereals and soy flour, mixed with extra minerals and vitamins adding they are highly nutritious, formulated to meet the body’s protein, energy and micronutrient requirements for optimal growth.

The added minerals and vitamins provide numerous health benefits including boosting the immune system to fight infections, she said.

Ms Yacoub said nutrition is a key area of work for the WFP, which supports the Ghana Health Service to implement programmes in the Northern and Ashanti regions; and this is helping to prevent stunting among children and micronutrient deficiencies such as anaemia among pregnant and nursing mothers, and adolescent girls.

She said WFP has prioritised nutrition support under its COVID-19 response plan, as well as provided handwashing stations in all the participating health centres, retailer shops and supported the Ghana Health Service to include COVID-19 preventive measures in their social and behaviour change communication messages to mothers and care givers.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.