At least two children have died from malnutrition in the Bawku Municipal area this year, with 65 cases reported, according to health officials.
The ongoing conflict in the region has significantly disrupted livelihoods, leading to increased food insecurity and a surge in malnutrition cases.
Pregnant women in the municipality have also reported high rates of anaemia, further highlighting the region’s health challenges.
According to the Bawku Municipal Health Nutrition Officer, Bathomio Asigri, malnutrition cases spiked in 2023, with 297 cases recorded.
He attributed the rise partly to the ongoing conflict, which has hampered trading activities in the area.
“Bawku municipality is regarded as a business hub within the country. Unfortunately, within the past three years, trading activities have dwindled, and families are struggling with food security and nutrition,” he told Citi News.
Surveys conducted by the Municipal health authorities revealed that the frequency of daily meals has dropped significantly due to the economic downturn caused by the conflict.
“We’ve observed that the number of meals people take in a day has reduced since the conflict began, and this correlates with the increase in malnutrition cases,” Mr Asigri explained.
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