By Philip Tengzu
Guli, (UW/R), June 16, GNA – The Wa Municipal Office of the Department of Community Development has sensitised school children at Guli on children’s rights and responsibilities as part of efforts to promote child protection and discipline among the younger generation.
The sensitisation involved the use of Z-Folder Card, which links every child’s right to a corresponding responsibility to enable the children to understand the relationship between the two concepts.
To ensure effective communication and learning, the children were grouped according to their ages for the sensitisation and were also given the Z-Folder Cards each for further reference and learning.
The sensitisation was organised with technical support from the Upper West Regional Office of the Department of Community Development in collaboration with Bliss Eye Care.
It aimed at exposing the children to not only their rights but also their responsibilities towards themselves, their families and society.
Speaking at the event at Guli, Madam Nafisa Yahaya, the Acting Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Community Development, said the engagement was part of the Department’s Child Protection Programme.
The Child Protection Programme comprised two components – responsive child protection and preventive child protection.
Madam Yahaya explained that responsive child protection involved interventions aimed at rescuing and supporting children in need.
On the other hand, preventive child protection focused on measures to prevent abuse, neglect and other protection-related challenges affecting children.
Madam Yahaya noted that although many children were aware of their rights, there was also the need to educate them on their responsibilities to address rising cases of indiscipline within communities.
She said: “We have realised that children know much about their rights, but little about their responsibilities.
So, our engagement here today seeks to bridge that gap and help children appreciate the duties that come with those rights.”
She said the initiative sought to instill discipline, responsibility and positive behaviour among children while empowering them to make informed decisions about issues that concern their lives.
Madam Sherika Bashiru, the Wa Municipal Unit Head of the Department, expressed optimism that the sensitisation would encourage children to become conscious of their obligations and better protect themselves from situations that could expose them to abuse or exploitation.
The school children also received free eye screening and treatment from Bliss Eye Care.
Madam Bashiru explained that the Department’s partnership with the Bliss Eye Care was to bring eye care services and treatment closer to the children.
She said many people, especially in underserved communities, often delay seeking healthcare until their conditions become critical, making preventive interventions such as eye screening necessary.
“Through this partnership with BLEES Eye Care, we are bringing essential eye care services closer to children who may otherwise have limited access to such services”, Madam Bashiru said.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Menah
Reporter: Philip Tengzu, GNA
Email: [email protected]