On this year’s World Children’s Day, Women, Media and Change (WOMEC) joins the global community in reaffirming that every child has the right to survival, development, protection and participation. It is a Global Day of Action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20. The 2025 theme is : My day my rights.
Today, on World Children’s Day, we are reminded of a simple truth: every child deserves the chance to grow, learn, thrive and reach their full potential. Yet in Ghana, far too many children continue to be held back by the silent emergency of malnutrition.
Malnutrition remains one of the biggest threats to child survival and development in Ghana. Across the country, children face high rates of wasting, anaemia, and poor diet diversity. Behind every statistic is a child whose future is being quietly shaped by hunger, poor nutrition, or lack of access to essential care. Challenges that weaken immunity, delay brain development, and threaten school readiness. These are not just health issues; they are development issues that shape our nation’s future.
As a country, we cannot look away. Malnutrition in early childhood casts a long shadow over a child’s life, affecting learning outcomes, productivity, and overall wellbeing. Every child affected represents a future dream at risk.
WOMEC, through its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for increased leadership to combat malnutrition Project, has continued to engage national actors on the need for stronger leadership and increased investment in child and maternal nutrition. The project is being supported by the Eleanor Crook Foundation. One message stands out clearly: our children deserve better nutrition, better support, and stronger protection of their rights.
A critical area requiring urgent attention is access to Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), the lifesaving treatment for children with severe acute malnutrition. Ghana has made important policy strides, but availability remains inconsistent. No child should lose their chance at life because an essential treatment was unavailable.
On this world children’s day, we call on all sectors to act with urgency and compassion:
• Government leaders to prioritize consistent funding for child nutrition and include essential commodities like RUTF in the national health insurance scheme (NHIS).
• Parliament to strengthen oversight on nutrition financing and safeguard children’s rights.
• Media and journalists to keep spotlighting stories of children affected by malnutrition and demand accountability.
• Parents and caregivers to embrace diverse, locally available healthy foods that nourish children from infancy.
• Communities and civil society to continue advocating for environments where every child can grow healthy and strong.
A child’s right to good nutrition is not negotiable. It is fundamental and urgent. It is the foundation of their health, learning, and future.
On this World Children’s Day, let us renew our commitment to protecting children’s rights, nourishing their bodies and minds, and ensuring that every child in Ghana has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Our Commitment
WOMEC remains committed to amplifying the voices of mothers, caregivers, and health professionals; promoting evidence-based nutrition reporting; and ensuring that the rights of Ghanaian children remain at the centre of national dialogue.
Happy World Children’s Day!!!
