Koko Plus Foundation

KOKO PLUS AT THE JUST ENDED 9TH AFRICA NUTRITION CONFERENCE (ANC2024)

Posted on October 24, 2024 by manifest

The Africa Nutrition Conference is an educational event, jointly organized by the African Nutrition Society (ANS) and the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND).
The 9th Africa Nutrition Conference (ANC2024) took place this year, from October 7th to 11th 2024, at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana.
The theme of the conference, “Food and Nutrition in a Changing World: Implications for Nutrition Security and Health” seeks to address key critical global issues which impact food and nutrition security and the food supply chain. The theme was chosen to highlight and reflect the succession of global and regional crises and issues currently impacting on nutrition and health, and their implications for research, practice, advocacy and the training of nutrition and health professionals in Africa.

The conference brought together students, academics, trainers, and practitioners, as well as government and non-government actors within Africa. The aim was to bring together experts in the field of nutrition to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices.
As Koko plus foundation is a nutrition focus organization, it was important for us to join associate our brand with this event.
Koko plus Foundation had the opportunity to introduce our project and our progress during one of the symposiums at the conference. We also shared the strides we have made by combining Social behavior Change with a market base approach as part of efforts to sustain the project.
Along side the conference, an exhibition was held for all 5 days that provided a platform to showcase products and services to a diverse audience of dietitians, healthcare professionals, and nutrition enthusiasts.

As Koko plus foundation is a nutrition focus organization, it was important for us to showcase our protein micronutrient powder, Koko plus. Throughout the 5 days, complimentary sampling and interactive engagements were undertaken by the Koko plus team at the exhibition. Participants has the opportunity to tasting Koko plus with either millet porridge or mashed kenkey infused with ground nut, apples and bananas to promote 4-star diet whiles demonstrating the appropriate use of Koko Plus. Through this initiative, this activity aimed at
– Enhancing brand recognition and credibility
– Building and strengthening relationships with healthcare professionals and stakeholders
– Showcasing/promoting Koko Plus’s nutritional benefits
– Gathering feedback and insights from participants”

The engagement was a success with the team interacting with at least 400 participants that attended the conference with some making a repeated visits to the Koko plus booth. Some participants from other African countries were also intrigued and requested for product samples to be taken back home.

Empowering Children for a Healthy Future

Posted on October 3, 2023October 14, 2024 by manifest

Empowering Children for a Healthy Future: Improved Feeding Practices for the First 1000 Days Project (IFP)

The Improved Feeding Practices for the First 1000 Days Project (IFP) has been a remarkable initiative that has made significant strides in addressing malnutrition in selected districts in Ghana. The project, funded by the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) via the World Bank had immense contributions from the Ajinomoto Foundation and World Vision and was undertaken in three districts: Kassena Nankana West District (Upper West), Sekyere East (Ashanti Region), and Kintampo South (Bono East).

It ran from July 2020 to August 2023, targeting 4,800 households in 70 communities, and sought to improve dietary habits among women of reproductive age and the nutrient intake of children under two years.

A key component of IFP was using KOKO Plus, a protein and micronutrient supplement designed to improve nutrition in children aged 6 – 24 months and suitable to add to any complementary food. Over 13,000 children aged 6 – 24 months benefited from improved meal quality through the distribution of KOKO Plus. The Ajinomoto Foundation distributed 200,000 sachets of KOKO Plus to the beneficiaries and recorded a 96 % utilization rate. Other beneficiaries included 70 community-based health volunteers trained to deliver nutrition counseling using appropriate complementary feeding campaigns and social behavior change communication (SBCC) approaches. Additionally, over 104,000 women of reproductive age and men profited from these nutrition counseling sessions.

One of such beneficiaries, Madam Akangurege Amenga-etigo in the Zampengo community, indicated how her daughter of 18 months with suspected Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), had a remarkable improvement in her overall health and body weight after the introduction of KOKO Plus in addition to a varied diet.

The IFP project is an example of how concerted efforts and sustainable approaches like these can positively impact the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. It shows how a simple intervention with KOKO Plus can transform the lives of children in Ghana, giving them a chance to grow up healthy and strong.

As we look towards a future where every child reaches their full physical and cognitive potential, initiatives like the IFP project serve as a beacon of hope.

Resources

https://www.wvi.org/stories/ghana/collaborating-improve-feeding-practices-ghanaian-communities

https://www.faapa.info/blog/world-vision-ghana-launches-ifp-project-to-address-malnutrition/

Japan supports WFP to scale up nutrition programme in Ghana

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

ACCRA–The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a contribution of US$5 million from the Government of Japan which will enable the scale-up of an important programme addressing undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and obesity in Ghana.

“We’re extremely grateful for Japan’s generous donation which will allow more pregnant and nursing women, children, and adolescent girls to access nutritious foods,” said Rukia Yacoub, WFP Representative and Country Director in Ghana. “In 2019, we’ll expand the programme from the Northern Region where it is currently implemented to the Ashanti Region which also has high numbers of stunted children.”

Women without sufficient means will receive electronic commodity vouchers for locally- produced special blends of maize and soya beans mixed with vitamins and minerals. Children will receive special food supplements produced in Ghana including one developed by a Japanese private company.

Ghana’s Northern Region has the highest rate of stunting in the country; one in three children is stunted compared with the national average of one in five. The Ashanti Region has the second highest number of stunted children nationwide.

Stunting is caused mainly by insufficient nutrition and care during the crucial first 1,000 days of life and often leads to impaired physical and cognitive development which in turn diminishes productivity and earning capacity in later life.

According to the Cost of Hunger in Africa study, Ghana loses 6.4 percent of its GDP each year, estimated at GHC4.6 billion (US$2.6 billion) in 2012, because of costs associated with child undernutrition.

The United Nations World Food Programme – saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions through sustainable development. WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters, and laying the foundations for a better future.

Source: wfp.org

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.

Category: News