Community members, village chiefs, and dignitaries gathered on January 27 for the opening of the Nutrition Rehabilitation Center in Nkwanta South District, Ghana. The center is a pioneering facility for the region and aims to combat malnutrition among children under five. USAID/Ghana Deputy Mission Director Andy Karas described it as "a hub of hope."
The center's development was initiated by a Peace Corps Volunteer in collaboration with USAID/Ghana and AFRICOM. The U.S. Department of Defense led the construction as a humanitarian aid project, with a total investment of $639,700 USD from the U.S. Government. AFRICOM provided two-thirds of the funding, while USAID/Ghana contributed the remaining third along with training programs and medical supplies.
The Volta region faces significant nutritional challenges, with 27% of children stunted due to malnourishment and 79% anemic. Major Mark McEvers from AFRICOM emphasized the importance of building local capacity to address these issues.
The NRC features eight patient rooms, facilities for hygiene, a kitchen, staff rooms, storage areas, treatment spaces, and rainwater harvesting capabilities. USAID/Ghana supplied beds, linens, medical equipment, and will soon provide therapeutic food items.
USAID plans to collaborate with local authorities through its Systems for Health project over the next five years to improve child and maternal health outcomes in Nkwanta North and South.