World Vision Ghana launches 2014 report

World Vision Ghana (WVG), a non-governmental organization, has launched its 2014 report which showed that each person in every community has access to about 20 litres of safe drinking water each day within 30 minutes distance from their residence.

This feat scored the WVG Area Development Programme (ADP) above the threshold of 50 per cent with a national average of 77.69 per cent.

‘Transforming Households from Reliance to Resilience for Well-being of Children,’ was the theme used to launch the strategy for 2016-2021.

According to the report, nine out of the 16 ADPs that reported on proportion of adolescent, who ranked themselves as “thriving” on the ladder of life had scores above the NO average of 26.54 per cent.

Mrs. Gifty Appiah, Ministry Quality and Strategy Director of WVG, who presented the report said, 15 out of 21 ADPs recorded high Antenatal coverage, ranging from between 82.91 per cent and 94 per cent, which was above the acceptable threshold of 80 per cent.

Sixteen out of 21 ADPs recorded high coverage of infants, who were delivered by skilled birth attendance above Fiscal year (FY) 14, WVG’s average coverage of 59.3 per cent, ranging between 63.2per cent-100 per cent, whiles 11 out of 16 ADPs recorded coverage above the World Health Organisation threshold of 80 per cent.

The proportion of the household with comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS prevention ranged between 84 per cent and 95 per cent across 24 ADPs in FY 2014, exceeding the WVG FY15 target of 80 per cent.

The 2014 report also recorded improved health and living conditions for 1.6 million for people through increased access to safe, reliable and affordable water supply and related sanitation/hygiene services.

There has also been improved household food security and resilience for 1.9 million children and their families as well improved health and nutritional status of 1.3 million children under five.

Year 2014 recorded an improved access and quality of basic education for 2.4 million children leading to improved learning outcomes as well as strengthening partnership and citizen empowerment for advocacy towards the sustained wellbeing of 1.2 million children within families and communities.

Mr Kweku Rickett-Hagan, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, who launched the report and strategy, noted that, the role of non-Governmental Organisation, such as WVG in addressing the developmental challenges affecting the nation cannot be overemphasized, and added that, government endorsed the WVG launch.

He lauded their effort at reducing poverty and helping in achieving some of the Millennium Development Goals.

Mr Hubert Charles, National Director WVG, noted that, improving sanitation and hygienic conditions contributed to poverty reduction and socio-economic development, hence the provision of clean drinking water in all communities.

He said the focus on reaching all children, though ambitious, was to ensure that no child is left behind in terms of basic needs and rights, adding that, the strength of WVG was in Water Sanitation and Hygiene, maternal and children health, livelihood and food security.

He noted that their challenge, however, was their wide geographical spread and dwindling funds from child sponsorship.

Dr Micheal Agyekum Addo, Chief Executive Officer of Kama Group of Companies, who chaired the function, called the development of the cognitive and imaginative brain of children to help them explore and not to kill their dreams.