An Obuasi based Non-Governmental Organisation Holystic Nutrition has partnered Food For All Africa (FFAA) to supply 500 boxes of food items to the aged, vulnerable and malnourished in the Obuasi.
Each food relief box weighing about 14kg contained: rice (5kg), oil, beans, maize, gari, tin tomatoes, tin mackerel, corned beef, milk powder, chocolate powder, nose mask, hand sanitizer, etc, and will impact about of 4 vulnerable people per household of the 500 beneficiaries. In all 30 communities in the Obuasi East and the Obuasi Municipality benefited from the donations from the two organisations.
Briefing the media at the sidelines of programme, Founder and Executive Director of Food For All Africa a non-profit organization specialized in fighting hunger and food waste, Chef Elijah Amoo Addo said the gesture forms part of the 100 million meals distribution programme which aims to provide food aid for disadvantaged communities in 30 countries including Ghana.
He said since May this year, the Dubai government together with the Food Banking Regional Network in Dubai, UAE and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), has been supporting Food For All Africa to provide over 2 million meals translating into 30,000 food boxes to vulnerable communities in Ghana especially those hit with the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said aside Obuasi, FFAA has donated over 22,000 boxes of food items to eight regions in the country and in the process of covering the other regions of the country.
On the rationale behind the project, Chef Amoo Addo, who was a recipient of the Queen’s Young Leaders Award by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace for his contribution towards the reforming of Ghana’s food distribution system, said the programme is part of efforts to support families during COVID-19 period.
Again, he said, one of the objectives of the programme is to push the prospect of food banking to communities and provide opportunity to solidify their efforts in working with community NGOs to build data of vulnerable people across the country and strengthen support systems.
Executive Director of Holystic Nutrition Organisation, David Ameyaw praised Food For All Africa for partnering them to support the vulnerable in communities in Obuasi. The gesture, he said, will go a long way to improve the livelihoods of the beneficiaries.
He said since 2017, Holystic Nutrition has rehabilitated 300 acutely malnourished children and has supported the nutririon of over 3000 other children; present in Obuasi as the only facility which provides treatment and rehabilitation of malnourished. Again, he said, efforts to prevent malnutrition has led them to provide food reliefs to over 2000 people since the outbreak of COVID-19.
On the criteria for selection of beneficiaries of the 100 million meals distribution programme, Mr. Ameyaw said they worked closely with the Social Welfare office as well as assembly members. The aged poor, disabled persons, and poor people living with HIV/AIDS. Those who were found befitting after screening were added to a cohort of vulnerable and malnourished children, and severely food insecure households identified through Holystic Nutrition’s.
