FDA partners with World Food Programme to tackle stunted growth in children

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Food Programme to implement the Enhanced Nutrition and Value Chains (ENVAC) project in order to prevent stunting in children.

Addressing the media at the MoU signing at the FDA headquarters on Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer of FDA, Delese Mimi Darko disclosed the eagerness of her outfit to support the initiative, which she believes is aimed at protecting and promoting the safety of consumers.

“The FDA will lend its support to this project by overseeing the safety and quality management, post-production and market surveillance of targeted agro-food processing companies from factories to their retailer points, as well as selected community level agro-food processors, to support safe and nutritional value chain development within the regulatory framework of Ghana”, she said.

Madam Darko asserted that the FDA will provide technical support to the WFP on requirements necessary for initial product approval, renewal of all products to be produced under the ENVAC project, as well as collect random samples from selected agro-food processors for laboratory tests.

The Enhanced Nutrition and Value Chains (ENVAC) project is an integrated nutrition and agriculture project which receives funding from Canada to reduce stunting and micronutrient deficiencies through private sector approach to agriculture and agri-business.

The 5-year project, which started in 2017, has provided technical and financial support to smallholder farmers in five regions; Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West to produce quality cereals.