Ajumako-Mando C/R, Mar. 15, GNA - The Country Director of the Compassion International Ghana, Reverend Mrs Jemima Amannor over the weekend, deplored the fact that many more children, particularly those in the rural areas, are living in debilitating hunger and are malnourished. She said more disturbing was the fact that these children do not have access to education and health facilities as well as other basic services, adding that, they are homeless and exposed to unsafe environment abuse, social discrimination and exclusion.

Rev. Amannor expressed these concerns at a ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of the Mando Wesley Child Development Centre, an organization set up jointly by the Methodist Church and an international Non-Governmental Organization, Compassion International Ghana, to educate and help deprived children to develop their skills.

She made reference to the 2009 UNICEF report, which indicated that children constitute the single largest sub-group of about 42% of the population, yet they mostly suffer neglect with majority of them being among the rural poor, while rapid urbanization creates hardship for them. Rev Amannor added that the situation is even harsher for girls who risk sexual abuse, unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Her organization in this regard partners with evangelical churches to assist such needy and deprived children, by giving them spiritual, cognitive and social education to enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.

Speaking on the theme "take the child and nurse him for me and I will pay you," Mrs Amannor said it is a wake up call for all Ghanaians to contribute their quota towards the upbringing of children, particularly needy and deprived ones in their communities to enable them to realize their potentials to the fullest and develop into functional and responsible adults.

She said the Ghana office started in 2005 and have so far registered 24,000 needy children with 96 implementing church partners in Greater Accra and the Central Region, adding that, it's their desire to give definition to what it means to be "Realized" as a needy child. She said her organization would work to ensure that children were free from preventable diseases and are taught to express love to each other for them to have a real experience, as they grow The Project Coordinator of the Mando Wesley Child Development Centre Mr Samuel Eshun said it has registered 200 needy children, including 103 girls in the Mando Community.

He said they meet every Saturday to take the children through spiritual, cognitive, socio-emotional and physical activities, which enhance them to fully know God to enable them to eschew some negative social vices like armed robbery and pick-pocketing. Mr Eshun said about 60% of the children could now read and write and this has encouraged them to attend school regularly, and emphasized that within one year, 194 children have attracted sponsors in the United States, who pay their school fees and health expenses.