Author: Emelia Naa Ayeley Aryee || Freelance Journalist
World Vision Ghana has launched its newest campaign, ‘Enough’, aimed at curbing hunger and malnutrition in children, by tackling global issues of food crises, influencing policies in the food ecosystem, and engaging government and key stakeholders.
This was disclosed by officials of World Vision at the media launch of the ‘Enough’ Campaign held on Monday, July 1, in Accra.
National Director calls for active participation
In an address by the National Director of World Vision, Ms. Laura Del Valle, the project has become necessary to release children and their families from hunger and malnutrition caused by poverty.
She disclosed that not only children suffer from hunger and malnutrition, but, also pregnant women, causing most of them to be anemic.
She called on the media to participate actively in the campaign and widen advocacy in areas affecting women and children, especially when it comes to hunger and malnutrition.
“The media plays an important role in the dissemination of information. Report on how to take good care of pregnant women, raise the awareness that we have enough to get rid of hunger. Advocate for the increment of good food at school, do your part in breaking the cycle of poverty. These are important,” Ms. Del Valle stressed.
The ‘Enough’ Campaign
Tackling the details of the ‘Enough’ Campaign, the Child Protection and Advocacy Manager of World Vision, Mr. Gregory Dery, revealed that over 25 million children are at risk of starvation and anemia.
A 2023 report by World Bank indicates that Ghana experienced a food crisis in 2022, with the number of food insecure Ghanaians surging from 560,000 in 2021 to 823,000 in 2022. This marks a 47% rise in number of individuals suffering from lack of food access, availability, and utilization.
Northern Ghana is the hardest hit when it comes to higher level of food insecurity compared to its central and southern regions – Savannah 58.8%, Upper West 61.8%, North East 65.6%, and Upper East 73.7%, according to the 2022 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey.
All, except the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions, experienced severe consumption deficit and pervasive use of negative coping strategies, says a report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Again, a 2022 report by the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) shows the national stunting rate at 18%, while the current rate of wasting stands at 6%. Underweight children at 12%, while 2% of children under age 5 being overweight.
“It is for these reasons that we are rigorously embarking on this campaign with a vision of building a world where every child enjoys enough nourishing food so they can thrive,” Mr. Dery disclosed.
He averred that having enough nutritious food is critical for a young child’s physical growth and brain development, as lack of it leads to poor brain development, weak learning, low immunity, increased infections, and, in many cases, death.
Advocacy strategies
Mr. Dery said World Vision will influence four (4) government’s policies on food and nutrition.
There will also be budget advocacy, and awareness raising for communities to keep reminding government to ensure there is increased food supply because there is enough.
World Vision Ghana, he said, will also embark on education to reach 1.7 million individuals and households on behavioural change to void waste.
He added that World Vision will give space for children’s campaign by building their capacity and empowering them to speak up on the subject matter.
World Vision, with the ‘Enough’ Campaign, will advocate for the need for government to adequately expand the school feeding programme to reach all children. Sectors, including education, WASH, child protection will all play a critical role, Mr. Dery said.
Her further called on government and key stakeholders to ensure there is enough good, and nourishing food to end child hunger.
World Vision is known for its insightful and elaborate campaigns that have resulted in culture shift, including the End Child Marriage Now campaign, which has rescued a lot of girls.
