KOKO Plus Foundationmanifest, Author at KOKO Plus Foundation

Effect of the provision of a macro‐ and micro‐nutrient fortified complementary food supplement on nutritional status of Ghanaian infants

Posted on January 19, 2023October 14, 2024 by manifest

Abstract

Background

Only 13% of Ghanaian infants 6–23 months have a minimum acceptable diet. The study examined the effect of a macro‐ and micro‐nutrient fortified complementary food supplement (KokoPlus™) on growth and nutritional status of Ghanaian infants.

Methods

In a cluster randomized study, 38 communities were randomly assigned to three arms: KokoPlus™ and nutrition education (KP), Micronutrient powder and nutrition education (MN) and Nutrition education alone (NE) (n=301 infants/group). KP and MN received the same micronutrient dosage. Supplements were to be delivered weekly with instructions to use one sachet daily. Monthly nutrition education sessions included recipe demonstration and emphasized breastfeeding, complementary feeding and WASH practices. Baseline (B), midline (M) and endline (E) data collected at 6, 12 months and 18 months of age respectively. Research protocol included a venous blood draw, dietary assessment, SE status, morbidity, WASH and food security at B, M and E, monthly anthropometry assessments and weekly morbidity assessment and compliance with protocol. Length for age (LAZ), Weight for age (WAZ) and Weight for height (WLZ) Z‐scores were computed using the 2006 WHO‐MGRS growth reference. Serum hemoglobin, retinol binding protein, ferritin, zinc, C‐reactive protein and alpha glycoprotein, IGF‐1 and cortisol were assessed. Iron markers were corrected for infection. Analysis was intent to treat and included post hoc compliance modeling with mixed effects linear regressions adjusting for community clustering, age, baseline outcome measure, maternal height or maternal BMI.

Results

Mean LAZ scores at B time point were −0.74 ±1.02, −0.74 ±0.97 and −0.64 ±1.01 and E time point were −1.219 ± 0.06, 1.211 ± 0.03, and −1.266 ± 0.03 in groups KP, MN and NE respectively. At E, serum hemoglobin was significantly higher in the KP (114.02 ± 1.87 g/L) than MN (107.8 ± 2.5 g/L) or NE (108.8 ± 0.99 g/L) correcting for acute infection. Compliance (% of delivered supplement consumed) for KP and MN were 86.2% and 88.4% respectively; however, only 60% of supplement delivery was achieved. Post hoc modeling showed significant associations between higher supplement consumption with LAZ gain and serum zinc levels in KP, but not MN, indicating potential effects of KP masked by incomplete supplement delivery.

Conclusions

A macronutrient‐micronutrient fortified complementary food supplement significantly improved hemoglobin in infants with no acute infection but showed no significant difference in LAZ scores. Modeling using intended delivery rates and observed compliance shows significant improvement in LAZ and serum zinc implying a dose response effect of the intervention. Further work optimizing delivery and uptake of this intervention is required to validate this finding.

Support or Funding Information

This study was supported by Ajinomoto Inc and JICA.

The “Africa Health And Wellbeing Initiative”

Posted on April 10, 2022October 14, 2024 by manifest

The Government of Japan and Ghana have been collaborating in many spheres for the improved health system in Ghana. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, there is commendable progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.

Under the auspices of the Cabinet Secretariat, the Government of Japan, and the Japan Business Council for Africa (JBCA), a virtual seminar was held on 25th February 2022, focusing on innovative healthcare-related technologies and services by Japanese companies in addressing healthcare challenges in Ghana. Thus, achieving Universal Health Coverage. The event was a build-up on the bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation signed in 2019 under the “Africa Health and Wellbeing Initiative” (AfHWIN), through business-based collaborations.

The Ajinomoto Foundation (TAF) / KOKO Plus Foundation (KPF) amongst the six participants in the event, showcased their public-private partnership through the AfHWIN project: partnering with NEC, Sysmex, the Ghana Health Service, and the United Nation World Food Programme with funding from the Japanese Government.

The project focuses on the common goal of improving child nutrition by multi-stakeholder’s approach. It embraces a comprehensive approach of promoting behavior change among mothers, prevention of maternal and infant malnutrition through using our nutrient supplement powder KOKO Plus, digital health services (NEC), and early diagnosis of anaemia and malaria (Sysmex), provision of nutritious foods and livelihood support.

As a result, a multifaceted approach to promoting behavior change, prevention, and early diagnosis can be taken at various stages of maternal and child health care.

The Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Aboagye and the Japanese Ambassador commended the project.

The Japanese Ambassador in his speech demonstrated Japan and Ghana’s long-standing cooperation in the healthcare sector and encouraged future collaborations to strengthen the Ghana-Japan relationship in the healthcare sector. Moreover, his excellency admired Ajinomoto Foundation and KOKO Plus Foundation’s efforts. Similarly, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service in his closing remarks showed Ghana’s willingness for continued collaboration with Japanese healthcare companies. He believed that the potential for partnerships among the public and private sectors with these companies could contribute to future Human Capital Development in Ghana!

WFP Ghana Country Brief, October 2019

Posted on March 23, 2022October 14, 2024 by manifest

In Numbers

45,000 beneficiaries targeted for nutrition support in 2019.

22,020 smallholder farmers, 12 Nucleus farmers and 8 aggregators targeted for capacity strengthening and market linkages in 2019.

US$ 2.1 m six months (November 2019 -April 2020) net funding requirements.

22,611 beneficiaries received direct food assistance through vouchers in October 2019

Operational Updates

• The stunting prevention programme in the three Northern regions conducted two separate distributions for pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and caregivers with children aged 6-23 months, where specialized nutritious foods (SNFs) and non-SNFs were redeemed by the beneficiaries. Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) on health, Water and Sanitation (WASH) and nutrition key messages were given to the beneficiaries by Ghana Health Service staff at the various implementing facilities for improved lifestyle and to increase to redemption of the commodities.

• The third durbar for the quarter, one of the SBCC strategies being employed by GHS in Asokore Mampong to reach out to people on the benefits of KOKO Plus, was organized in the reporting period. There was demonstration of various nutritious local recipes with KOKO Plus added.

• The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) reported heavy and continuous rains in the Upper East region which led to the loss of lives (28), injuries (19), collapsed houses and displacement in nine districts. Some relief items were mobilized by the Government and distributed to the affected victims by NADMO. Appeals are ongoing by NADMO for relief items especially NFIs and food.

• GSFP/NEPAD/WFP/PCD Collaboration; WFP collaborated with NEPAD to provide nutrition training on school meals to caterers in the Ashanti Region. This is part of a wider programme of support to improving nutrition quality of meals provided under the school feeding programme. Africa Union Development Agency (formerly NEPAD), PCD, WIAD and Yedent as well as caterers and cooks school children, egg producers’ association and the media were also present. The event was followed by some cooking demonstrations

Koko Plus Foundation Donates To Kumasi Children’s Home

Posted on March 12, 2022October 14, 2024 by manifest

Koko Plus Foundation, manufacturers of popular food supplements, on Thursday donated boxes of its products to children at the Kumasi Children’s Home.

Speaking succinctly after presenting the items, Country Director for the Foundation, Yusuke Takahashi said the gesture was to help correct any malnutrition in the children at the home.

The Koko Plus supplement, he reiterated, contained vitamins and minerals that enhance good growth and vitality among children.

“Infants who are fed with Koko Plus alongside normal breast milk are very healthy and functional at all times since they possess the nutrients necessary for proper development’’, he disclosed.

DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION-GHS:

Speaking to the media, Ashanti Regional Nutrition Director at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Madam Olivia Tempo applauded the gesture by Koko Plus Foundation.

She noted that the GHS was dealing with major cases of stunted growth in children across the Ashanti Region with some 420 cases recorded annually.

The Director, therefore, stressed that any effort or measure taken to halt such development, especially in infants and children was welcome.

‘’Even though we recommend exclusive breastfeeding for infants in the country, any additional food must be in the shape of what Koko Plus offers since it has every nutrient or supplement that enhances proper human growth’’, Madam Tempo stated.

APPRECIATION:

Expressing appreciation to the Koko Plus Foundation, Madam Mabel Boamah, Home Manager at Kumasi Children’s Home said the gesture was timely.

She noted that kids brought to the home are screened and those with any deformity or irregular growth are treated specially.

Currently, the Home Manager disclosed that 94 children are in her outfit with 45 being girls and the rest boys.

‘’With the availability of the Koko Plus food supplements at Home, each child will have a sachet to put into his or her food so as to enhance proper growth’’, Madam Boamah noted.

STORY BY MICHAEL OFOSU-AFRIYIE, KUMASI.

Author: manifest