A - OK? - Ghana

December 2003
Of the 32,000 children who die every day from preventable causes, over 20% are killed by shortage of a vital nutrient. Vitamin A is essential for the functioning of the human immune system, and its deficiency also causes childhood blindness. In industrialized countries, foods like flour or sugar have been fortified with it for decades. But it's not the same picture in some developing countries, where children with Vitamin A deficiency still run the risk of dying from common childhood illnesses like measles and diarrhoea. The cost of ensuring that all children receive enough Vitamin A is minimal - the twice-yearly capsules cost just 2 cents apiece - and this Life programme looks at the political inertia surrounding the issue, and a new campaign designed to ensure the right of all children in the developing world to adequate nutrition through the provision of Vitamin A supplements or the fortification of essential foods. And it goes on to explore a controversial new development to provide basic crops like rice genetically modified to include Vitamin A.

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• Ghana
• children
• malnutrition
• vitamine
• news
• documentary
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• journeyman
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[bluecafe22]

All of the foods they mentioned that are supposed to be high in vitimin A are actually staples of the average Ghanaian's diet. I'm still scratching my head, trying to figure out how anybody in Ghana could be vitamin A deficient. They mentioned mango, palm oil, tomatoes, meat and peanuts to be high in Vitamin A -- I swear, I ate those things, in some form or another, everyday I was there... So did everybody else.

[Akosuakate]

Yes but if you listen carefuly, they say that these foods may be getting to expensive, even though they are traditional foods. Sometimes mothers might not be feeding these to their children, even though they may eat it themselves. When money is tight, who knows what people are eating, things that may not be full of Vit. A.

[TheKattttt]

@bluecafe22 Because vitamin A is soluble in fat...I suppose they can't absorb the nutrient because their diets are too low in fat. Just because you consume a large quantity of nutrients does not mean you will absorb all of it into your blood stream.

[susuilu]

only bad news!

[frankwhite432]

@GHAfrica maybe ud like to start a little fund raiser? help some people out.

[GHAfrica]

@frankwhite432 i agree with you man, if i had enough money, i would try my best to help all parts in ghana

[jeffwincort]

what the fuck is that

[PresidentOfTheBlack]

tired of miley cyrus ads.

[frankwhite432]

man if i had money, this wouldnt be happening over there

[mikeikeman]

palmnut oil and

CARROTS, LIVER,EGGS

BUTTER, MANGOES, SPINACH

PAPRIKA AND CHILI POWDER AND CHEESE ARE

RICH IN VITAMIN .A

EATING THESE IN MODERATION WILL BOOST VITAMIN A LEVELS IN THE BLOOD

[cocoaton]

Its really happening regardless of what we think. THis is reality to them. They need medicine, help. who will help them? the white man go there for gold or other goods and live high on their land. with blind eyes they enjoy the fruits of a broken nation. broken by their hands. yet they sleep soundly. White people, tell your friends the needs of africa. you go to appear as a helper. you return hating your black american neighbors. the poor will worship you. Is that all you want?. Just care.

[kudikudi1]

the goverment needs to do something about this, it's too much. I feel sorry to see my people like this, especially the children.