WRITTEN BY FRANCA MADIKE
Today is being observed as the Day of The African Child. The aim is to progressively facilitate the proper development of the African Children from childhood to adulthood.
The day was designed by African Union to honour the courage and the memory of hundreds of young black African school children massacred during the Soweto Uprising of 1976. The theme for this year’s is: “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for Children in Africa, Accelerating Protection, Empowering and Equal Opportunity”.
Activities lined up for the celebration include road show, news casting on radio and television by children, advocacy visits, drama and cultural dances.
The African Charter on the rights and welfare of the African Child was adopted by O.A.U in 1990. The Charter established a Committee, comprising Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the African Child. It consists of eleven members of high moral standing, integrity, impartiality and competence in matters of rights and welfare of the child. The African Union has used the Day of The African Child to Celebrate Children in Africa as well as to inspire a sober reflection and action towards addressing the numerous challenges that children in Africa face on daily basis.
There are many crises affecting the African child, ranging from the family, the community, the nation and the world at large. A good number of harmful socio-cultural practices hinder the full self realization of the potentials of children, including early marriage, divorce, parental separation, child labour, exploitation among others.
Some children equally face emotional challenges like isolation and abandonment and have no hope for the future. In the long run, children survival and development are jeopardized as the society’s ability to invest in their future becomes weakened.
Worthy of emulation however, is the Anambra State government’s child-friendly disposition that led to the promulgation of all necessary laws to ensure maximum protection of the rights of child. These efforts are yielding results in both internal and external examination and the increase in general standard of education in the State.
If the current drive by the government of Anambra State is sustained, the Anambra Child has a future. It is envisaged that by 2030, no child of Anambra origin who is of school age would be out of school, engaged in child labour or trafficked. The state is equally planning to ensure the eradication of all childhood related diseases. By 2030 the Anambra child would be first among equals and a reference point to what an ideal child would look like by all standards.
No doubt, the efforts of the wife of the governor, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano (Osodieme), in campaigning towards addressing major causes of child mortality and her soft spot for the vulnerable and less privileged members of the society earned her an award as the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Ambassador, courtesy of European Union and UNICEF.
Since Children spend more than five hours each day in schools, this makes the schools important place through which their health can be influenced positively. All schools in Anambra State should therefore improve hygiene practices in schools. Essentially, transmission routes of water and sanitation- related diseases are to be totally isolated.
As Africa marks the Day of African Child today, there is need for overall improvement as it will go a long way in eliminating all problems militating against the development of the African child. Bravo to the African Child.
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