In the nearest possible future, ASCONS plans to, among other things, try to implememtn the following

Ø    To enter into partnerships with the Ghana Health Service and other relevant stakeholders to help fight the problems of malnutrition.

Ø    To undertake exchange programmes with other students both within and outside Ghana in order to exchange ideas on how to combat malnutrition especially in the developing worlds.

Ø    To create the indulgence of the Ghana government on the need to step up efforts to help combat malnutrition and to promote healthful nutritional practices among Ghanaians especially the vulnerable groups in order to improve health and well-being.

Ø     To help support the Accelerated Child Survival and Development Programme in Ghana.

Ø    To include volunteers o0utside the association during the outreach programmes.

Ø    It is the dream of the association that all policy-makers will see the fight against malnutrition as the key to promoting national and human resource development. Hence efforts will be made to sensitize these relevant stakeholders in this direction.

FRENCH COOURSE

In view of the importance or the urgent need for members to become bi lingual and marketable for that matter, the executive body for 2005/2006 academic year have arranged for members to undertake a six weeks course in French to enhance the intellectual development of all members.

 The French Embassy at the end of the programme will also offer members certificates of recognition

THE ASCONS-UDS CENTRE FOR NUTRITION EXCELLENCE 

This Centre for Nutrition Excellence shall be registered with the Registrar General’s Department of the Government of Ghana as a non-profit making non-governmental Organisation/Institution whose affairs will be entirely managed by members of the ASCONS-UDS with advice from Patrons and in consultation with other relevant resource persons and existing Organizations and Agencies.

The idea of the centre was hatched in view of the high prevalence of malnutrition, poor health and high infant and maternal mortality rates resulting from malnutrition in most parts of the country and in several other developing countries around the world.

The centre hopes to achieve its relevant objectives through consultations, collaborations with Patrons, other relevant resource persons and existing Organizations and Agencies and through appropriate research.

Among the plans that are intended by the centre include:

Ø    To design relevant programme intervention to help solve the problem of malnutrition and poor health in order to promote good health and well-being.

 Ø    To gather relevant information on/or related to nutrition in a well set up resource centre in the form of books and other publications like journals.

 Ø    To disseminate information gathered on/related to nutrition to all individuals, organizations and institutions in order to bring about a better understanding of nutrition-the benefits of good nutrition and the silent but dilapidating effects of malnutrition both to the individual and the nation as a whole.

 Ø    The centre also seeks to serve as a platform for students in the field of nutrition to carry out nutrition advocacy and effective and sustainable behavioural change communication aimed at promoting healthful nutritional practices and discouraging harmful nutritional practices.

Ø    Information gathered at the centre would also be used to equip students in the field of community nutrition in order for them to become well informed and prepared to function more effectively as agents for the promotion of improved nutrition.

 Ø    The Centre will seek donor support especially with funds, to supplement those generated by the Association through their income generation activities.

 Ø    Through seminars, workshops and symposia, solutions to pertinent nutrition problems will be discussed.

 Ø    Students across the world in the field of nutrition will be assembled to deliberate on pertinent nutritional issues and to make appropriate recommendations to relevant stakeholders including Governments to take action.

 Ø    The centre shall bring together experienced and well-informed resource persons to offer training to other health professionals including nutritionists on current issues related to nutrition.

 Ø    The Centre shall also conduct a series of study on existing nutrition policies and programmes and conduct surveys where necessary in order to devise a sustainable and effective approach to improve nutrition and health.

 Ø    Other existing nutrition policies and programmes that have proven to be effective in the promotion of good nutrition shall be fully supported by the centre.

 Ø    The implementation of the activities of the centre will serve as platform for students to gain practical knowledge, necessary for their training as Community Nutritionists.

COMMUNITY BASED MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMME (CBMCNP)

 The CBMCNP, which is the brainchild of ASCONS-UDS, is currently in the planning process and is expected to be an effective way of improving nutrition in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions of Ghana.

 The main focus of the programme is on appropriate young child nutrition practices, micronutrient consumption and maternal health promotion.

 On completion, a draft of the programme will be sent to relevant resource persons and organizations for advice towards the betterment and improvement of the programme in order to ensure its success.

 The programme intends to achieve its objective of improved maternal and child nutrition through effective Behaviour Change Communication and techniques aimed at winning the commitment and understanding of the target groups and hence the success of the programme.

 The programme will also be designed in such a way that it does not conflict efforts by the Ghana Health Service but will seek to supplement efforts by the Ghana Health Service to improve the nutrition of all Ghanaians.

 One other important aim of the programme is to help monitor the effectiveness of the various School Feeding Programmes in the three Northern Regions of Ghana where malnutrition is endemic in promoting good nutrition among school-age children.

 The programme is expected to last for five years after implementation and each and every member of the Association is fully committed to the success of the programme. But the date for the commencement of the CBMCNP has not yet been chosen since the programme is still at the planning phase.