How to prevent child abuse and What you can do to prevent child abuse. On the 10th of March,2020, Helpers Social Development Foundation (HSDF) stormed Uwani Primary School in Enugu South Local Government area with the message of How to Prevent Child Abuse that is prevalent amongst pupils in the region.
This programme was organized by Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ESUBEB) with over 38 teachers from different schools under Enugu south local government Area in attendance and over 285 pupils from different schools within the local government in attendance. School pupils welcome us with cultural dance.
HSDF was chosen to be one of the facilitators that enlightened the pupils on the practical ways of Preventing Child Abuse using my body is my body program and its deadly consequences amongst children. HSDF is an organization that is fully into humanitarian development and working towards the betterment of children, youths and women to ensure healthy development among them. They see to it that the protection and safety of children will guarantee a better future.
Mr. Chukwuebuka explained the mission and vision of the organization to the school children and teachers present and assured the children that the organization is in existence for their welfare and safety. The group attended HSDF programme age between 5-12 year old children.
Miss Agbim Chiamaka Favour addressed the pupils on the Practical Ways of avoiding any form of abuse as a child. She started by defining the meaning of Child Abuse which is the physical, emotional, psychological and sexual maltreatment of a child. She went further to reveal that 95% of prostitutes, armed robbers, kidnappers were abused as children hence emphasizing the need why they should pay keen attention and decide within them never to give room to any form of Abuse.
What you can do to prevent child abuse
The first practical way she enumerated was that they should not allow anybody to touch their private parts. At this juncture she allowed some of them to mention the private parts which they did excellently. She sternly warned them never to allow anybody not even their school, house helps, neighbour etc to touch those parts because it is private to them. She urged them to report anyone that makes such attempts to their parents, teachers in schools or HSDF.
Secondly, she warned them never to keep secrets, that if anyone should threaten them of death or any harm when they reveal an act or information they should know that such act or information is evil and must report immediately. Thirdly, they should avoid collecting gifts from strangers or yard members that present themselves as friends to harm them, but they should allow their parents to vet every gift from neighbours or friends.
Finally, she firmly warned the girls not to allow boys/men call them the name, “My wife” and the boys to reject the name “My In-law” for so many children have been abused because they were loosely released to evil men and women that treated on the carelessness of their parents or guardians. She closed the session with a song that she taught the pupils which says -It’s my body, my body. Nobody has the right to hurt me;
It’s my body, my body for me. The pupils joyfully sang it and declared harmoniously_ My body is My body and no one has the right to touch it or hurt me. The representative of ESUBEB, Mrs. Ameh Anastasia declared her indebted gratitude to HSDF team for the great lecture of which the teachers benefitted a lot after which she pledged to take HSDF programme: Child abuse prevention to other local governments for such enlightening program. She also warms the female child to avoid early marriage.
The headteacher of the host school Mrs Appolonia Chime also thanked HSDF team and considered the school privileged to host such a program. At the end of the program, she took the chairman of HSDF, Mr Chidi Okeke around the school concerning infrastructures are yet to be put in place such a toilet system both for the pupils and teachers. She said her school Uwani primary school need humanitarian assistance. According to her, she has made several efforts to put the infrastructure in good without seeing any good result including from the parents and Government.
The condition of the structures, housing the various classrooms; toilet facilities, have been allowed to collapse. The school which is under the jurisdiction of Enugu state education ministry, the controlling ministry, like many other primary schools, has been allowed to suffer this uncommon fate. No meaningful attempt had been made to revamp the structures. The school lies in the urban area in uwani in Enugu south local government area of Enugu state.
The classroom is not conducive for learning because there is no roofing in most of the building, chairs, desk, windows, doors, ceiling, no toilet. The children and teachers defecate openly. There is no source of water for sanitation and hygiene. This practice poses a lot of health risks and challenges for school children and teachers.
Besides the lack of toilet infrastructures, most of the roofing sheets over the classrooms are gone which greatly hinder learning during rainy seasons. The chairman assures her adequate support and promises to get back to her.
It may interest you to know that Uwani rivers primary is a public school managed by Enugu State Ministry of Education hence needs urgent attention.
Read also: How to donate to sponsor less privileged children education
Some of the members of HSDF team that were present are Mr.Chidi Okeke, Miss Agbim Chiamaka Favour, Pharm. Chidera Aniakor, Mr. Lucky and Mr. Alex Okwor.
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