World Vision Ghana has unveiled its latest campaign, dubbed ‘Enough’, aimed at addressing the pressing issues of hunger and malnutrition among children.
The campaign seeks to tackle the root causes of food crises, influence policies in the food ecosystem, and engage government and key stakeholders to ensure every child has access to sufficient nourishing food.
National Director’s Call to Action
At the media launch of the ‘Enough’ Campaign in Accra, National Director Laura Del Valle emphasized the need for collective action to free children and their families from the grip of hunger and malnutrition caused by poverty.
She noted that hunger and malnutrition affect not only children but also pregnant women, leading to anemia and other complications.
Del Valle urged the media to play an active role in the campaign, advocating for improved food security, especially for women and children.
Campaign Details
Child Protection and Advocacy Manager Gregory Dery revealed that over 25 million children are at risk of starvation and anemia. Citing a 2023 World Bank report, he noted that Ghana experienced a food crisis in 2022, with a 47% surge in food insecurity.
Northern Ghana is the hardest hit, with regions like Savannah, Upper West, North East, and Upper East experiencing severe consumption deficits.
Dery emphasized that having enough nutritious food is critical for children’s physical growth and brain development, and lack of it leads to poor brain development, weak learning, low immunity, and increased infections.
He outlined World Vision’s advocacy strategies, including influencing government policies on food and nutrition, budget advocacy, awareness raising, education, and empowering children to speak up on the issue.
Objectives and Strategies
World Vision aims to build a world where every child enjoys enough nourishing food to thrive. The organization will:
– Influence four government policies on food and nutrition
– Advocate for increased food supply and budget allocation
– Raise awareness and educate 1.7 million individuals and households on behavioral change
– Empower children to speak up on the issue
– Advocate for the expansion of the school feeding program to reach all children
Partnership and Call to Action
World Vision Ghana is known for its impactful campaigns, including the End Child Marriage Now campaign. The organization urges government and key stakeholders to ensure enough good and nourishing food to end child hunger. Dery emphasized that sectors like education, WASH, and child protection will play a critical role in the campaign.
The ‘Enough’ Campaign seeks to create a world where every child has access to sufficient nourishing food, free from hunger and malnutrition. With a collective effort, World Vision Ghana hopes to achieve this vision and ensure a brighter future for children.