World Vision Ghana Launches ENOUGH Campaign to end Child Hunger and Malnutrition

By Grace Akumiah

World Vision Ghana has launched its global ENOUGH campaign to end child hunger and malnutrition. World Vision Ghana has a proven track record of working with government agencies to improve health systems and community well-being, with more than 45 years of experience in the country. Today, the organisation addresses the pressing issue of global hunger, with more than 25 million children at risk of starvation and 149 million children stunted due to malnutrition.

The global hunger crisis, worsened by conflict, climate change, and economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to skyrocketing food prices. Children are the most affected, suffering from curable diseases, malnutrition, and related health problems that stunt their physical and cognitive development. In Ghana, the situation is critical, with national statistics revealing high rates of stunting (18%), wasting (6%), underweight (12%), and under-five mortality (40 deaths per 1,000 live births). According to the World Health Organisation, nearly half of Ghanaian children aged 6-59 months are anaemic, highlighting the severe nutritional deficiencies faced by the youngest in the population.

The ENOUGH campaign aims to build a world where every child has access to nutritious food, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 2 to end child hunger and malnutrition. The campaign focuses on two strategic goals: ensuring that children are considered in hunger, nutrition, and food security policies at all levels, and improving food security, nutrition, and resilience for more children through prioritised services. The campaign's objectives include providing immediate nutritionally appropriate food and cash assistance to the most vulnerable children and caregivers, expanding school meal programmes, and improving nutritional outcomes for adolescent girls through micronutrient supplementation and transformational programmes. 

World Vision Ghana is calling on the Government of Ghana and all key stakeholders, including donors, development partners, NGOs, the media, faith leaders and community members to join forces and act on existing or new policies to end child hunger and malnutrition. By providing enough nutritious food, ensuring adequate funding, building political will, promoting household food security, advocating for quality school meals, and ensuring that every child has access to nutritious meals, the ENOUGH campaign strives to create a future where every child can thrive. 

Let us continue to work together to end child hunger and malnutrition now.