Table of Contents
The Catholic Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, Most Rev. Alfred Agyenta, has warned that food insecurity, concerns over the use of agrochemicals and environmental pollution could undermine efforts to improve public health, calling for greater attention to the availability, accessibility and quality of food.
He said clinical nutrition could only make a meaningful contribution to disease prevention and patient recovery if people had access to sufficient and wholesome food, stressing that the work of dietitians must go beyond hospitals to address the conditions that determine what people grow, buy and eat.
The Bishop made the remarks at the 21st National Conference of the Catholic Health Service Trust-Ghana (CHST), held at the Extee Crystal Hotel in Bolgatanga under the theme, “Dietetics in Contemporary Medical Practice: Enhancing Clinical Excellence through Workforce Development.”
Speaking as chairperson of the conference, Most Rev. Agyenta said food and nutrition were essential not only for promoting health but also for preventing diseases and managing existing medical conditions.
He, however, cautioned that nutrition interventions could have limited impact if communities continued to face difficulties accessing food or if the quality of available food raised concerns.
“Food security is still a challenge in many places, including our own region,” he said, pointing to the short rainy season in the Upper East Region as one of the factors affecting food production.
He said the region needed to strengthen sustainable agricultural practices to improve food security, adding that the Catholic Diocese was supporting such efforts through its development office, NABOCADO, with a focus on sustainable and green practices.
Bishop raises concerns over agrochemicals, illegal mining
Most Rev. Agyenta also raised concerns about the use of agrochemicals in food production, arguing that greater attention must be paid to the safety and quality of food consumed by the public.
He called for efforts to promote safer and more sustainable farming practices, saying food production should not only focus on increasing yields but also ensure that the food reaching households supports good health.
The Bishop further drew attention to the effects of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, on water bodies and the food chain, urging stakeholders to consider the implications of environmental degradation for public health.
He said improving nutrition required collaboration among health professionals, policymakers, agricultural institutions and communities, warning that discussions about the clinical benefits of food would remain largely theoretical if people could not access enough safe and nutritious meals.
His concerns place food security and environmental protection alongside clinical care as issues that must be addressed in efforts to improve health outcomes in the region.
Regional Minister calls for stronger nutrition education
The Upper East Regional Minister, Akamugri Donatus Atanga, also called for stronger nutrition education in schools, homes and communities, particularly as non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension continue to challenge healthcare systems.
He said quality healthcare went beyond diagnosing illnesses and prescribing medicines, noting that appropriate nutritional care was important for disease prevention, recovery and improved patient outcomes.
The Minister warned that excessive consumption of sugary drinks and highly processed foods, diets high in salt and unhealthy fats, and physical inactivity increased the risk of obesity and other chronic diseases, particularly among young people.
He called for a stronger and adequately supported dietetics workforce, backed by continuous professional development, research, evidence-based practices and collaboration among health professionals.
He also urged stakeholders to ensure that the Upper East Region’s agricultural potential translated into better nutrition and healthier families, rather than focusing solely on increasing food production.
Mr Atanga said the region’s development framework, PEARL 2026–2035- Prosperity through Enterprise, Agriculture, Resilience and Livelihood, recognised the importance of a healthy population to sustainable development.
He urged government institutions, healthcare providers, development partners, traditional authorities and the private sector to support initiatives that strengthen nutrition, improve healthcare delivery and build the capacity of health workers.
Catholic Health Service Trust calls for stronger clinical nutrition
The Director of the Catholic Health Service Trust-Ghana, George A. Adjei, Esq., has urged colleagues and supporters of the health service to continue supporting its work, emphasising the importance of collaboration in strengthening patient-centred care and improving healthcare delivery.
He said the national conference provided an opportunity for healthcare practitioners and leaders of health institutions to examine the place of dietetics in contemporary medical practice and identify ways workforce development could improve the quality of clinical nutrition and patient care.
Mr Adjei encouraged participants to connect hospital-based treatment with public education and preventive healthcare, taking into account the social and environmental conditions that influence people’s health.
The Catholic Health Service Trust-Ghana is a Catholic Church-owned, not-for-profit health service that supports healthcare delivery through its network of facilities and institutions, including services that reach underserved communities.
Its work forms part of the Catholic Church’s contribution to healthcare in Ghana, complementing public health services and extending care to communities where access to medical services may be challenging.
The conference brought together healthcare practitioners, institutional leaders and representatives of training institutions to discuss how dietetics and workforce development could contribute to better clinical outcomes.
The discussions also underscored the need for nutrition to be treated not merely as an aspect of patient care within hospitals, but as a broader public health concern linked to food security, agricultural practices, environmental protection and healthy lifestyles.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102.7 MHz| Lawaba Nelson| Bolgatanga
