LAGOS HEALTH DISTRICT IV ORGANISED CHILD RIGHTS, PROTECTION SENSITISATION PROGRAMME
… Urges Parents To Protect Wards From Abuse
Parents have been urged to pay closer attention to their children and take serious note of changes in their behaviour that may indicate abuse or emotional distress.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health District IV, Dr. Abimbola Bowale, gave the advice at a child rights and protection sensitisation programme the district organised for secondary school students in Surulere.
The programme, held at New Era Senior Secondary School, Surulere, brought together pupils from different secondary schools and was facilitated by resource persons from the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development and the United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF).
Dr. Abimbola Bowale, who was represented by the Director, Medical Services and Disease Control, Dr. Sotunde Oludolapo, stressed the need for children to be aware of their rights and the avenues available for them to seek help when they experienced abuse or faced threats to their well-being.
He noted that although facilities and mechanisms existed in Lagos State to protect children, many were unaware of their rights or how to access the support available to them.
The Permanent Secretary added that children have the right to healthcare and they could seek help on many issues, including menstrual health, sexual and reproductive health and other concerns affecting their well-being.
He also urged children to speak out to trusted adults, including guidance and counselling teachers and school principals, when they experienced abuse or witnessed it happening to others.
According to him, some children remain silent because they fear what would happen to them if the person abusing them is a parent or another member of their household.
He said children should be made to understand that mechanisms exist in the state to protect them even when their parents were unable or unwilling to take responsibility for their safety.
Dr. Abimbola Bowale emphasised that children should not only know their rights but also understand their responsibility to protect the rights of others.
Comments
Post a Comment