State urged to address street kids challenges

By SITEMBILE SIWAWA

THE Ministers' Spouses Club has called on government to address the various challenges facing children who live on the streets.

Vice-President Guy Scott's wife, Charlotte, said this in Lusaka yesterday in a speech read for her by Minister of Labour Fackson Shamenda's wife, Mary, who is also club secretary general.

This was during the commemoration of the Universal Children's Day on the theme "Treasure our children" at Southern Sun Hotel.

"Government values initiatives by various stakeholders who provide services to improve the lives of children living on the streets," Mrs Scott said.

Mrs Scott said under-five mortality now stands at 119 per 1,000 live births and that the causes of these deaths are neonatal complications and various infections.

"The underlying cause of one-third of these deaths is malnutrition and Zambia has a high rate of stunting which stands at 45 percent," she said.

Mrs Scott also bemoaned the continued child sexual abuse which has negatively affected the lives of many young girls and boys across the country.

"It is sad to note that children are usually abused by people they know and trust. Most of them are close relatives," she said.

Mrs Scott has since urged the police and other law enforcement agencies to continue working tirelessly to address the high levels of child sexual abuse in the country.

And Media Network for Child Rights and Development executive director Henry Kabwe said children living on the streets deserve to go to school.

Mr Kabwe said currently, the number of children who have accessed early childhood education stands at 17.2 percent.

He also said formulation of the birth registration policy should be accelerated so that all children are registered at birth.